the doge's daughter

Also known as: the noble maiden · Family: Venetians · Role: daughter of the doge · First appears: Chapter VII · The Marriage of Maximus Tzrnoyevitch · Part 1

In Chapter VII · The Marriage of Maximus Tzrnoyevitch, Ivan Tzrnoyevitch asked the doge for his daughter’s hand in marriage for Maximus Tzrnoyevitch, and the betrothal was successful. Ivan later decided to abandon it. Nine years passed, and the maiden had heard nothing from him; it seemed the betrothal had been forgotten and that she might have wedded another prince.

At Venice, the bride was presented to Milosh Obrenbegovitch, dressed as the bridegroom, while the Venetians took him for Maximus. She accepted the bridegroom’s gifts, but on the journey halted at Zablak and reproached Ivan for making Milosh her alleged bridegroom. Ivan explained that this had been a stratagem to bring her away in peace, and Milosh returned her, her steed and other gifts to Ivan’s son, though he kept the helmet, cloak and golden shirt. The bride insisted that Maximus recover the shirt she had made for him; at the castle, Maximus took her from her leader.

Her uncle Yesdimir had cherished her as a daughter and grieved at her departure. Her mother gave him a magnificent gift, while the younger Venetian prince presented the bridegroom with a sabre, saying, “Wear this, O brother, and be proud of it!”