For Princess Margaret

"For the shining sun of my life,
For the spring flower of the Dent,
I go down in dishonor,
And I renounce my liege,
I release my legions,
For Princess Margaret"

— From the ballad "For Princess Margaret"

The story of Princess Margaret and Sisenna is a classic tale in Cymbar, recounted in poems, songs, and plays. A love story between the crown princess of Cymbar and a Palatine general and diplomat, the story recounts the burgeoning relationship between the two during Sisenna's many and prolonged visits to the Khelish kingdom on behalf of his emperor. Despite the tenuous relationship between the Palatine empire and Cymbar, the two grew close, and planned to marry. Margaret's father did not trust the Palatine general, and considered the match inappropriate. Before the princess and the general could marry, the Palatine emperor ordered the invasion of Cymbar, and bade Sisenna to carry it out with the legions under his command. Unwilling to hurt his beloved in such a way, and go to war against her father, he instead sent the legions home. The emperor was furious, and ordered Sisenna to be captured and tried. Margaret attempted to shelter him, but ultimately her father the king handed the wayward general over to the emperor, in exchange for assurances that Cymbar would remain a kingdom in its own right. The two were forever separated, and Sisenna was exiled, or in other versions of the story executed.

Variations & Mutation

The story of Sisenna and princess Margaret is told as a love story, a tragedy, or even to raise Cymbarite national sentiment. Sisenna is universally considered to have been motivated by love for the princess, and depending on the teller he is depicted as a tragic hero, or a hopeless fool. Some retellings play up Margaret's role in convincing Sisenna to disobey his emperor, casting her as not just the maiden of a love ballad but also a shrewd politician who saved her kingdom.

Date of Setting

209-216

Related Ethnicities