the Doge of Venice (Marko's koom)

Also known as: the Doge of Venice · Family: Venetians · Role: Doge · First appears: Chapter IV · Prince Marko's Wedding Procession · Part 1

In Chapter IV · Prince Marko's Wedding Procession, Marko invited the Doge of Venice to come with five hundred men and act as koom at his wedding. At the Bulgarian court, King Shishman feasted the party for three days; as they travelled through the woodland and meadows, the Doge fell in love with the daughter of King Shishman of Bulgaria.

When the wedding party halted for the night, he offered Styepan Zemlyitch a bootful of ducats to let him flee with the bride. On the third night, Styepan accepted three bootfuls and gave her to the Doge, who took her to his tent and urged her to flee with him to Venice. She refused, secretly gathered his beard while he was being shaved, and showed it to Marko as proof that Styepan had sold her. At break of day, Marko killed the Doge with his sabre.