# Fenzileh — The Sea Hawk character guide

> Fenzileh in The Sea Hawk by Rafael Sabatini.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** O Fenzileh, the spying Fenzileh

**First appearance:** 0019-viii-mother-and-son

## Snapshot

A cunning slave woman in the Basha's household, whose fierce ambition for her son Marzak makes her the quiet architect of intrigue against the rising corsair Sakr-el-Bahr.

## Who they are

Fenzileh rules the lesser women of Asad-ed-Din's harem with a rod and a whisper, her authority exceeding even the Basha's in the small tyrannies of the household. Her consuming desire is to see her son Marzak raised above the Christian renegade whom Asad loves as a son, and she will scheme, spy, and poison a mind to achieve it. Her enmity toward Sakr-el-Bahr gives the Algerian chapters their domestic menace, a counterpoint to the open violence of the sea.

## Relationships

### [Marzak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/marzak)

_family_

Fenzileh is Marzak's mother, fiercely protective of him and resentful of Sakr-el-Bahr's influence.

### [Sakr-el-Bahr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sakr_el_bahr)

_family_

Fenzileh is the wife of Sakr-el-Bahr (Oliver), but their marriage is one of convenience and cultural obligation, lacking true love.

### [Marzak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/marzak)

_family_

Fenzileh is Marzak's mother, fiercely protective of him and resentful of Sakr-el-Bahr's influence.

### [Marzak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/marzak)

_family_

Fenzileh is Marzak's mother, fiercely protective of him and resentful of Sakr-el-Bahr's influence.

### [Sakr-el-Bahr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sakr_el_bahr)

_family_

Fenzileh is the wife of Sakr-el-Bahr (Oliver), but their marriage is one of convenience and cultural obligation, lacking true love.

### [Sakr-el-Bahr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/sakr_el_bahr)

_family_

Fenzileh is the wife of Sakr-el-Bahr (Oliver), but their marriage is one of convenience and cultural obligation, lacking true love.

## In the story

### [Part II: Sakr-El-Bahr](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/part-ii-sakr-el-bahr)

A cunning figure who conspires with Marzak to undermine Sakr-el-Bahr.

### [Lion of the Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/v-lion-of-the-faith)

Asad's wife, who uses her influence to undermine Sakr-el-Bahr, driven by jealousy over his favor with Asad and concern for her son Marzak.

### [VI: The Convert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vi-the-convert)

Jealous of Sakr-el-Bahr's success, manipulates Asad by questioning the voyage's true purpose.

### [Marzak-Ben-Asad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/vii-marzak-ben-asad)

Observes from behind a lattice, clenching her teeth in frustration, and later joins Marzak and Asad to continue her scheming.

### [VIII: Mother and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/viii-mother-and-son)

Fenzileh furiously opposes Sakr-el-Bahr's command, demands Marzak lead the expedition, and is physically thrown aside by Asad when she persists.

### [IX: Competitors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/ix-competitors)

Confronts Asad about the new slave, but is publicly rebuked and ordered to return home in her litter.

### [XII: The Subtlety of Fenzileh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xii-the-subtlety-of-fenzileh)

Visits Oliver's house in disguise and offers to buy Rosamund for three thousand philips.

### [XIV: The Sign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/chapters/xiv-the-sign)

Manipulates Asad-ed-Din by exploiting his piety and jealousy, poisoning his mind against Sakr-el-Bahr.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters/fenzileh
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sea_hawk_se/characters