extraction, he tries by every means to hinder their projects, tightening the stringency of inquisitorial persecution against heretics and Jews. Mortal enemy of Diego Alatriste, because the latter disobeys his instructions to assassinate the two Englishmen he hatches several plots against Alatriste. Álvaro Luis Gonzaga de la Marca y Álvarez of Sidonia (aka Alvaro de la Marca), second Count of Guadalmedina, Grandee of Spain. Warrior and poet, he participates in campaigns against the Berber pirates; in 1613–1615, about to die in the disaster of Querquenes (1614), he is saved by Diego Alatriste, with whom he subsequently maintains a close friendship, albeit conscious of the difference in their social standing. In court, he shines as a refined aristocrat, and is celebrated as a poet. He is a great admirer of Francisco de Quevedo, but more akin to Góngora, whose patron he becomes after the loss of their great protector, count Villamediana, murdered in 1622. Martín Saldaña, former soldier and comrade of Alatriste, now lieutenant of alguaciles ("Police" of the period) in Madrid. Lope Balboa (c.1575–1621), former Alatriste's comrade and father of Íñigo Balboa. María de Castro, a famous actress from Madrid. Caridad la Lebrijana, Alatriste's mistress and the owner of The Tavern of the Turk, Alatriste's main residence in Madrid. Born in Lebrija (in the province of Seville), she moved to the capital around 1608, where she worked as an actress for a half-dozen years. She became a prostitute (in a brothel on the Calle de las Huertas), after which (c. 1620) she bought with her savings The Tavern of the Turk, on the corner of Calle de Toledo and Calle de Arcabuz, about 350 m from the Plaza Mayor. The tavern was an eatery that also rented rooms, in one of which stayed Alatriste and Inigo Balboa during their sojourns in Madrid. Ambrosio Spínola (1569–1630), Genoese military under Spanish command and governor of Milan. Gurriato (?–1634): A Moor tribesman of Oran, he joined Alatriste and others in 'Corsarios de Levante' after being baptized 'Gurriato'. His original name was Aixa Ben Gurriat from the Beni Barrani tribe. Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares (1587–1645), was King Philip IV's chief minister and the most powerful man in Spain next to the king himself. By 1643, with disasters befalling Spain, the Count-Duke of Olivares was dismissed. King Philip IV of Spain (1605–1665) was intelligent, but lacked interest in the affairs of state, which