Prince Cambyses bowed his head and said then, "I hope to see you soon," and he departed with his company. Mandane was very young; she had never seen a respectable person like him before. Indeed, that was her first love.
"Come away from there, you will be seen!" admonished Governess Magizadah. It often seemed to Mandane that her governess was more preoccupied with propriety than with her educational duties. Governess Magizadah was very prim and despised any hint of what she referred to as commonness in her young charge. Mandane was well aware of this but couldn't help herself. She watched as the seemingly endless line of men and horses and servants wound up the path. At the very end came an ornate carriage which held King Cyrus and the members of his court who were attending.
Governess Magizadah send a message to Mandane's mother, Queen Aryenis about the meeting of Prince Cambyses, son of Cyrus of Anshan, and Mandane by the lake springs. She told her he wanted to return for a visit with us here. The Queen of Media send back a message telling Governess Magizadah that they were going to have a state dinner in honor of King Cyrus of Anshan. She would make sure Mandane would be there to meet Prince Cambyses and his family during the state dinner.
Mandane is one of those girls who should be remembered for her honor and wisdom. She was brought up by Queen Aryenis and King of Kings, Astyages, of the Median Empire. She was a descendent of the King of Kings Diyako; the founder of the Median Empire. Diyako earned his honors because of his justice as a judge even before he gained the trust of the people and was elected as a leader of the Airyanem Vaejah people.
Her mother, Queen Aryenis, daughter of King Alyattes and sister of King Croesus of Lydia, was very pleased to see her daughter's happiness, particularly when Prince Cambyses I asked to marry her within a few days of their second meeting.
Prince Cambyses I first asked his own father's permission to marry Princess Mandane; his father was glad to hear his request. He told Prince Cambyses I, "In our next meeting with the King of Kings Astyages, I will ask him for his daughter hand for you."
There was a meeting between both families and then King Cyrus I spoke to the King of Kings Astyages. "Oh King of Kings of the Airyanem Vaejah nations, we are very proud to be here to renew our alliance as a relative and partner in the service of our nations. My son, Prince Cambyses I, wants to be your servant, and he wants you to accept him as your son. We are asking your permission to allow Princess Mandane to marry my son. As you are aware of our Parsu peoples' blood relationship and our family connections, we will be honored to renew our family ties according to our people's customs and traditions.
Astyages was very happy to hear the request and replied to King Cyrus I, "My friend, you and your Parsu people are the backbone of the Median Empire. I am very glad to see them be married. It will strengthen and renew our family connections for generations to come; they can then be a united people for their own survival. I would like to consult my Queen and Mandane before saying yes. I will get back to you very soon." After consultations with his Queen and Mandane and finding family acceptance, King of Kings Astyages called for a meeting of the families and told King Cyrus I and his son, Prince Cambyses I, in the present of Princess Mandane and her mother, Queen Aryenis, of his the family's acceptance of the marriage. They announced the engagement to the palace and publicly. The people in the Median Empire were very happy for the coming marriage.
The wedding of Princess Mandane was celebrated throughout the Kingdom of Anshan. After few months Prince Cambyses I's father, King Cyrus I, passed away and Cambyses I become King of Anshan.
King Cambyses I of Anshan was very pleased. He was honored by the King of Kings of the Median Empire agreeing to the marriage to his daughter. He was pleased about his kingdom's increased security by having Mandane Queen Consort of Anshan. The young family was happy and planned for the future.
Queen Mandane was told the history of the families by her father. She learned that both Madayu and Parsu were the children of Matiene, the hero of the Airyanem Vaejah people. He told Mandane that the great grandfather of her husband, King Cambyses I of Anshan, helped his great grandfather in the establishment of the Median Empire. "We are originally related," he said. "Respect your husband and be a good Queen of Anshan." The father reminded her about honor, justice, truth and good before her departure to Anshan. He said Auramazdà ha (God) will help you when you help the people of Anshan.
King Cambyses I and Queen Mandane held court at Anshan and served their people daily. Both the King and Queen were popular among the people. The people loved them because of their justice.
The two young people were becoming more acquainted with each other, day by day. Their love for each other was very strong. In their private times, away from the court, they began to learn from each other about their heritage, from what they had heard from their families and teachers.
She became pregnant and gave birth to a son in 569 BC. They named him Cyrus after his grand-father. The King and Queen were very happy about the birth and reported it to the families. But after a few weeks they learned that the Median army was in Anshan.
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