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 the lack of variation in looks.

Members of House Shahrizai

During Kushiel's Dart

Melisande: the most conspicuous 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 Ysandre de la Courcel. He is one of the Shahrizai who turns Melisande in to the Duc de Morhban.

Persia: one of the younger members of the House, turns Melisande in to the Duc de Morhban.

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 and Prince Benedicte de la Courcel. Fostered with Phèdre nó Delaunay de Montrève.

Mavros: maternal cousin of Imriel de la Courcel. Son of Sacriphant Shahrizai. He spent a summer at House Montrève where the two became good friends. Since then they have become closer friends and are often seen together. Mavros has a crush on Sidonie de la Courcel's lady-in-waiting, Amarante of Namarre.

Roshana: spent a summer with Prince Imriel de la Courcel in Montrève.

Baptitse: spent a summer with Prince Imriel de la Courcel in Montrève.

During Kushiel's Mercy

Leander Maignard: a kin of House Shahrizai though a few generations removed. Lives in Cythera.