the daughter of King Shishman of Bulgaria

Also known as: the Bulgarian maiden · Family: Bulgarians · Role: princess · First appears: Chapter IV · Prince Marko's Wedding Procession · Part 1

In Chapter IV · Prince Marko's Wedding Procession, while wandering through Bulgaria, Prince Marko saw the daughter of King Shishman of Bulgaria and decided he wanted her for his bride. He asked her father for her hand and spent three tovars of gold on a ring, wedding-robe, and other presents. King Shishman placed his daughter and her horse in the keeping of Styepan Zemlyitch, to deliver her to Marko’s castle.

On the journey, the Doge of Venice saw the maiden and fell in love with her. When the third night came, Styepan gave her to the Doge in exchange for three bootfuls of ducats. The Doge urged her to flee with him to Venice, but she refused; while he was being shaved, she secretly gathered up his beard and escaped to Marko’s pavilion. There she told Marko that Styepan had sold her to the Doge and showed him the beard.