House Shahrizai

In Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy series, House Shahrizai is a powerful, wealthy, and influential noble family of Kusheth. Though they are not the ruling family in their province, they are the oldest House in Kushiel's line. The family's most infamous member is Melisande Shahrizai, the most cunning plotter of her day.
The House Shahrizai colors are black and gold, and their emblem is three keys intertwined.
Nearly all Shahrizai have blue-black hair and gem-like blue eyes. Their skin is pale, with some members of their house being exceptionally so. The men wear their hair braided into small braids while the women wear it loose. It is very common for closely related family members to marry each other, thereby explaining their distinctive physical traits.
Members of House Shahrizai
Please note that persons are not listed repeatedly even if they play a prominent role in later novels.
During Kushiel's Dart
Melisande: the most infamous member of her House, a prominent noblewoman, a sadist, and a traitor who plots and lays traps for the sheer love of the game.
Fanchone: represents House Shahrizai at the funeral of King Ganelon.
Marmion: a member of the House who courts Queen Ysandre de la Courcel. He is one of the Shahrizai who turns Melisande in to the Duc de Morhban. Brother of Persia.
Persia: one of the younger members of the House, turns Melisande in to the Duc de Morhban. Sister of Marmion.
Sacriphant: member of House Shahrizai though of unknown relation in the novels. Father of Mavros Shahrizai.
Tabor: member of House Shahrizai though of unknown relation in the novels.
During Kushiel's Scion
Imriel de la Courcel: son of Melisande Shahrizai and Prince Benedicte de la Courcel. Fostered with Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève.
Mavros: maternal cousin of . Son of Sacriphant Shahrizai. He spent a summer at House where the two became good friends. Since then they have become closer friends and are often seen together. Mavros has a crush on lady-in-waiting, Amarante of .
Roshana: spent a summer with in .
Baptiste: spent a summer with in .
During Kushiel's Mercy
Leander Maignard: a kin of House Shahrizai though a few generations removed. Lives in .
During Naamah's Kiss
Balthasar Shahrizai: a friend of who later befriends Moirin in Naamah's Blessing and comes to her aid. Travels to Terra Nova in Naamah's Blessing with Moirin.
Melisande Shahrizai
The most infamous member of House Shahrizai whose treasonous machinations in Kushiel's Dart and Kushiel's Chosen were so dire that even by the events of Naamah's Kiss (approximately 150 years after her death) her deeds have continued to taint House Shahrizai in suspicion. She plays a prominent role in Kushiel's Dart, Kushiel's Chosen, Kushiel's Avatar, and Kushiel's Mercy. In addition, she casts a significant shadow over the protagonist Imriel, her son, in Kushiel's Scion and Kushiel's Justice. She is also mentioned in the short story, .
During the First Trilogy
Melisande is introduced in Kushiel's Dart as a prominent noblewoman of House Shahrizai. She is arguably one of the most beautiful d'Angelines in the ; with numerous poets writing odes about her beauty. She is the ex-lover and friend of Anafiel Delaunay and has been twice widowed despite her young age. She is trained in the arts of covertcy and has a prodigous intellect. She enjoys political scheming and will usually hint her genenious plans to Delaunay, who does likewise. Melisande is only person to view Delaunay's mysterous second pupil, Phèdre, before her debut as a Servant of Naamah.
For the rest of her history, please read the plot summaries of , , and .

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu