Dorothea

Also known as: Micomicona / Princess Micomicona / a private lady / a private maiden / lady Micomicona / princess / princess Micomicona / the distressed damsel / the fair Princess Micomicona / the lady Micomicona / the princess / the princess Micomicona / this great princess / this queen · Family: Micomicona · Role: daughter of wealthy farmers · First appears: Part 1, Ch. 28.2

Dorothea, the daughter of the wealthy farmer Clenardo, was courted relentlessly by Don Fernando in Andalusia, but she initially rejected him: “I never gave Don Fernando a word in reply that could hold out to him any hope of success.” After he secretly entered her locked chamber, he pledged to marry her before an image as witness, gave her a ring, and then left before daybreak, breaking his promise. That same night Dorothea fled her father’s house in disguise to seek him; when her servant tried to assault her, she pushed him over a precipice and continued alone.

In Part 1, Ch. 29, Cardenio recognized Dorothea as Clenardo’s daughter and promised to restore her to Don Fernando, challenging him if necessary. With the curate and the barber, she agreed to impersonate a distressed princess, dressed herself in rich clothing and ornaments, and was presented to Don Quixote as Princess Micomicona, heiress to a kingdom threatened by Pandafilando of the Scowl. She maintained the invented story of her orphaned parents, Tinacrio the Sapient and Queen Jaramilla, rejected marriage to the giant, and persuaded Don Quixote to seek his defeat. She also promised Sancho Panza a great lordship, guided him to treat Dulcinea del Toboso respectfully, and repeatedly reminded Don Quixote to complete her enterprise before taking up other adventures.

After Don Quixote declared the giant defeated, Dorothea’s identity was exposed at the inn, but Don Fernando wanted her to continue the deception, so she remained Princess Micomicona while Don Quixote pursued the supposed enemy. When she recognized Don Fernando in Part 1, Ch. 36, she fainted, then claimed him as her husband by the pledge he had made. He accepted her claim—“Thou hast conquered, fair Dorothea, thou hast conquered”—and released Luscinda, agreeing to live with Dorothea in peace. Thereafter Dorothea supported Zoraida, comforted Doña Clara de Viedma and promised to help her love affair reach a happy ending, and continued travelling with Sancho Panza as the former Princess Micomicona.