An officer in the Renaissance Army – commissioned or warranted – selects a Renaissance Name, an alias by which they conduct their duties in the RAM. This is done to protect the officer’s family from retribution. The name may be one selected by the officer due to its significance, or one suggested by another officer. Any officer must accept and agree to the name given to them.
There is no official register or officiant for Renaissance Names, and it is possible for two officers in different commands to have the same name.
The list below is a list of Renaissance names that have appeared in the books. Spoiler sections are entered for major and important characters, with information that contain events from the books.
A – names
Archimedes (Commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel): The officer in charge of the Engineer Group, training the engineers, both for building and demolishing. He is Minnesotan. His name is chosen from the ancient
mathematician and engineer.
Aristotle (Commissioned; Colonel): The head medical officer of the Renaissance Army. He is an educated Quebecois, extremely well read and knowledgeable.
Aristotle chose his name because he acts as a moral compass and sounding board for the generals of the RAM, just as Aristotle did for Alexander the Great.
His first name is Andre. He is a part of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Renaissance Calling: Sasha first meets Colonel Aristotle when the RAM ambushes the yeomen who rescue her; she almost cuts his throat in the confusion. He is part of the trio of officers that Sasha impresses with her reading (along with General Prince), and is there when LTCOL Snow requests the generals implement the Templar Project.
Templar Scholar: Aristotle is heavily involved in the Templar Project, coming up with ethical dilemmas for the cadets. He helps the cadets recover from the magazine explosion and becomes Templar Elector’s new mentor when he choses to study medicine. At the end of the book, he is promoted to Brigadier General, and is present at the Templar commissioning ceremony, pinning the second set of insignia on Templar Elector.
B – names
Badger (Warrant, Able Artillery Officer): A battery commander in the artillery service. He is a Wisconsinite. His name is derived from the animals, both due to his native land and to his interest in fortifications and sieges.
Black (Commissioned, Colonel): Commander of the Intelligence Group. Very little is known about this individual, other than his gender. His name is from the color, and a reference to the shadows he operates in.
Buck (Commissioned, 1 st Lieutenant): A junior officer of the 3 rd Field Regiment, he joined shortly after it entered Brainerd County. He is Minnesotan. His name comes from his adversarial nature with others of similar rank.
C – names
Carpenter (Commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel): Commander of the Training Group, he is responsible for the three training camps at Athens, Sparta and Thebes. A former officer of the Iron Republic and a strict disciplinarian, he is a capable instructor. He is Minnesotan. His name is a reference to him building the foundation of the RAM.
Caesar (Commissioned; General): A general of the Renaissance Army of Minnesota. He is a foreigner, highly intelligent but awkward. Several officers refer to him as the problem solver of the RAM.
Caesar’s chose his name due to the political and military nature of his position, and as a way of reminding himself how dictators can fall.
His first name is Marcus. He is a part of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Renaissance Calling: Caesar is present for the ambush that frees Sasha Small from the yeomen. He engages her father in debate over violence and prepares a kit for Sasha to join the 3rd Field Regiment. At the end of the book, Snow asked Prince to give Sasha to Caesar, so that he can develop her mind.
Templar Scholar: Caesar arrives with Prince to see Winnie awarded the General’s Star. He then interviews Sasha alone, gauging her as a possible Templar and finding her a reasonable candidate and offering her the spot. He is there for the first day of the training and is heavily involved in the year-long project. Caesar elects to be Sasha’s mentor, guiding her education and training, and her discipline when necessary. Caesar takes Sasha as his apprentice and moves with her to Avalon, where they plan the capture of Walker Town. At Prince’s word they move to Walker and conduct the campaign, capturing the city; Caesar then approves Sasha’s idea of using radios to scare off an approaching army column. He is there for Sasha’s receipt of the Renaissance Cross, and admits to her that he was unsure if it should be awarded. Caesar is present at the Templar commissioning ceremony, where he pins the Templar badge on each Templar, and one of the rank insignia on Sasha.
Cicero (Commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel): The Provost Marshal of the RAM, in charge of the Military Justice Group. He is a younger Minnesotan. His name is a reference to an ancient lawmaker who fought for the Roman Republic.
Cross (Commissioned, Major): The officer in charge of the Chaplains group, he is responsible for training the few chaplains of the RAM and ensuring they are up for their duties, particularly when handling the various religions of Minnesota. He is Minnesotan. His name comes from his faith.
F – names
Fox (Commissioned, Major): An officer of the RAM, who developed the training program for the field troops (light warfare) and established the Special Services Group, the scouts and snipers. Though he is a group officer, he spends a significant amount of time in the field, making connections and scouting locations. He is a Verendrye woodman, living in what was once the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Ontario. His name comes from the animal.
Fox is a member of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Renaissance Calling: Fox saves Sasha from a bully and gives her a copy of the US Declaration of Independence, inadvertently starting her on the path to the Renaissance Army. He later comes across her in the 3 rd Field Regiment, where he is amazed at how much she has grown and her display of intelligence. He brings her to see General Prince and Colonel Aristotle, where she shows off her ability.
Templar Scholar: Fox arrives just before the generals, giving the regiment a short time to prepare. He then escorts Sasha back to Walker County. He visits her every so often during the Templar Project, and brings the cadets the plans during the blizzard. Fox is there for the Templar Commissioning Ceremony.
G – names
Gold (Commissioned, Colonel): Quartermaster General of the RAM and commander of the Logistics Group. An Old Guard of the Iron Republic of Minnesota. He chose his name to reference the importance of logistics to an army.
L – names
Lily (Commissioned, Brigadier): Adjutant General of the RAM and commander of the Staff Group. She is from Ohio. She chose the name Lily as a variation of her last name, which means ‘white’ in a foreign language.
Lily’s name is Miranda Weiss. She is a part of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Templar Scholar: Sasha meets Lily just before the Templar Project begins and discovers she is Snow’s identical twin sister. Lily’s involvement in the project involves some instruction in rhetoric, and as a mentor to Templar Rose, but she also spends time with each female cadet. She lends Sasha her book of The Letters of Laura Cereta when Sasha asks about books written by women. At the Olympic festival, Sasha observes Lily and Caesar in an intimate moment. Lily is present during the Templar testing. Lily’s efforts during the spring campaign lead to its success, and near the end she is promoted to Major General. She pins the insignia on Templar Rose at the Templar Commissioning Ceremony.
Lynx (Warrant; Field Officer): A junior officer in the 3rd Field Regiment. Sasha has had few interactions with her, and is unsure what she thinks of the woman. Everyone who has fought with her calls her competent; she wants a commission, but has problems reading. Her name comes from her skill as a fighter.
M – names
Mars (Commissioned, First Lieutenant): Commander of the Marine Company in the Naval Group. Mars is an aggressive and capable officer, but also known for his arrogance. He is Minnesotan. His name is taken from an ancient god of war.
Mary (Warrant, Able Medical Officer): The Third Field Regiment’s Surgeon, Mary is one of Sasha’s closest friends in the RAM. She is a kind and caring woman, and very learned in meeting the regiment’s medical needs, both in daily practice and emergency situations. She is Minnesotan. Her name was given to her by her instructors during her training when she showed extreme compassion and empathy, and was made official prior to her joining the regiment.
O – names
Oak (Warrant, Able Weapons Officer): The officer in charge of the heavy weapons of the 3rd Field Regiment. He is a Minnesotan.
P – names
Prince (Commissioned; General): The head of the Renaissance Army of Minnesota. He is a member of the Dawson family, the prominent family of the Iron Republic, which was massacred when the Commonwealth took over. He is responsible for establishing the RAM in Walker County, expanding its influence, and building the movement.
The name Prince comes from the Iron Republic: the most promising member of the rising generation of the Dawson family was called the ‘Prince of the Republic.’ When forming the RAM, the name was used as a code and stuck with him, despite his misgivings.
His full name is Ethan Dawson. He is a part of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Renaissance Calling: General Prince is present at the ambush that frees Sasha Small from the yeomen, and stands up to her father when he tried to take her back. He later arrives in Pelican Point to debate Mayor Middlestedt about the Renaissance Movement and its future. Fox brings Sasha Small to him to show off her intelligence, which impresses him. He later leads the combined troops in an attack at the Bonnie Lake Prison Camp. Prince oversees the destruction of the camp; afterwards, he agrees with LTCOL Snow to revisit the Templar Project.
Templar Scholar: General Prince arrives in Walker County to award the General’s Star to Sergeant Winnie. His purpose is also to invite Sasha to the Templar Project. He is heavily involved in the project, teaching several classes and directing some of the instruction on politics. He asks the Templars to show their abilities to a visiting embassy from Boston, and allows them to participate in a set of wargames. He is present for the final exams of the Templars and takes Templar Rose as his apprentice, moving to Bemidji for the duration of the campaign. He is there for the Templar commissioning ceremony, pinning one set of First Lieutenant insignia on each Templar.
S – names
Saber (Commissioned; Captain): Second officer of the 3rd Field Regiment; an older man and veteran of the former Minnesota army. His presence gives the regiment a foundation to build on. His name comes from the weapon.
Renaissance Calling: Saber marches with the regiment into Brainerd County and supports the initial efforts to secure their position. He is wounded by the betrayal of Mayor Middlestedt and Sasha helps Officer Mary remove his arm. He is then evacuated back to Walker County.
Templar Scholar: When Sasha is planning the attack on Walker, she learns that Saber is part of the siege forces, commanding the southern trenches. Saber shows hostility towards Sasha for cutting off his arm, and conducts his part of the battle efficiently. After the battle he is promoted to Major and takes command of the Trench Battalion, Renaissance Siege Corps.
Senator (Commissioned; Brigadier): Commander of the Infantry Group. In charge of the initial liberation and fortification of Walker County. A Minnesotan of the Old Guard of the Iron Republic. He takes his name as an homage to the legislative body of the republic.
Templar Scholar: Senator is the father of Templar Elector. When Elector switches his interest from Infantry leadership to Medical, Senator disrupts a Templar class, getting into a physical fight with the Templars and all but disowning his son. In the spring campaign, he is promoted to Major General and takes command of the Army of the Lakes, defeating the Royal Army at the Battle of Hunter’s Forest. He is noticeably absent from his son’s commissioning ceremony.
Snow (Commissioned; Lieutenant Colonel): Commander of the 3rd Field Regiment, the RAM formation in Brainerd County. She is the mentor of Sasha Small. She is from Ohio.
She chose the name Snow as a variation of her last name, which means ‘white’ in a foreign language.
Snow’s name is Amanda Weiss. She is a member of the First Circle of the Renaissance Movement.
Her face is heavily scarred due to an injury inflicted by her mother as a teenager.
Renaissance Calling: Sasha first meets Snow when Snow helps her fight off some bullies in the middle of Penelope’s Haven. Snow later takes Sasha in after her rescue from the yeomen, making her the first new recruit for the regiment. Snow challenges Sasha to become a member of the regiment, both physically and mentally. While proud of Sasha’s growth, she realizes Sasha is smarter than most and worthy of more than what the regiment can offer. She continues to cultivate Sasha within the regiment, but when Sasha asks to be considered for a warrant, Snow makes a request to General Prince to take Sasha and train her as a commissioned officer.
Templar Scholar: Snow prepares the regiment for the arrival of the generals and the award ceremony for the General’s Star. She then prepares Sasha for her interview with General Caesar, explaining her reasoning for the Templar Project and giving Sasha her Renaissance name. She stays in touch with Sasha through correspondence during the project.
Stock (Warrant, Command Quartermaster): A quartermaster of some responsibility, brought with General Prince to Brainerd County in Renaissance Calling. He is a former member of the Iron Republican Army. He is Minnesotan. His name is a reference to his duties as a quartermaster.
T – names
Tamarack (Commissioned, Captain): The second officer of the 4th Field Regiment. She is Minnesotan. She took her name from a common tree in Minnesota.
Thunder (Commissioned, Captain): The chief of the artillery group, she is responsible for training mortar and artillery crews. She is Minnesotan. Her name comes from the sound of artillery fire.
Trumpeter (Commissioned, Colonel): Commander of the 1 st Field Regiment, he was responsible for many of the early victories against the Walker County yeomen. Eventually his regiment moved northwest to the Bemidji area. He is Minnesotan. His name comes from an instrument he enjoys playing.
W – names
Wild (Commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel): Commander of the 4 th Field Regiment. A large man who wears a bandolier of knives and often accompanied by a large wolf or dog. He is loud and boisterous and aggressive, but also friendly and supportive. He is Dakotan. His name is a reference to his look and personality.