THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

19-21: Battle Rejoined [summary]
327
© 2009 Max Wickert
At dawn, both Charlemagne and Almont convened councils of war and urged an all-or-nothing battle. Neither had
yet heard of the capture of Almont’s banner train. In the desperate battle that follows, Triamides kills Miles of
Maine, but is himself killed by Miles’ brother, Berlingher; and Richier cuts down King Baldras and Candor, King of
Cyprus. As the melee continued, the Christian were steadily gaining ground. On a hill overlooking the fight, the Pope
could be seen blessing the army of the Faithful. (21) When Almont entered the fight in person, he killed Galeran of
Alinflor and Morand of Gascony, yet could do little to stanch the Christian advance. He retreated to a hilltop for a
bitter colloquy with Balant, who once more reminded him of his embassy and the truth of his estimate of the Franks.
“Nonetheless, I hope you will stay with me to the death,” said Almont. Balant promised that he would. Then they
returned to the fray. Almont killed Antonio of Salzire and Rainier of Oriens with many others. On the Christian
side, King Solomon overthrew and killed the Emir of Numidia.
Rout of the Saracens
22
While Almont was engaged in battle with Charles, Gerard of the Thicket had conquered his banners.
The latter, after taking some refreshment and rest, said to Lord Clare and Lord Bussy: “Get on your
horses, with your helmets on your heads, and take five thousand knights to assist our Emperor
Charlemagne in the battle. I will presently come to join you and the whole honor of the battle will
be ours. We may even be able to capture Almont and Anglant.” And so they set off.
At that point, a founded knight approached King Almont and, upon reaching him, cried: “Ah, my
lord, it is sad news I am bringing.” Almont, who sat talking to Balant at the time, was saying: “We
shall send for our banner guard, which contains Asperant and Margon and Mattafellon. With those
hundred thousand d, we will crush the whole Christian army.” That was when the above said
servant rode up and told him how the st6andards had been lost. Almont said to him: “Miserable
wretch, how could they be lost, since Margon, Asperant and the bravest knights of all Africa were
with them?” The messenger replied: “By Mohammed, my lord, I speak truth. These two kings have
betrayed you and have fled. An old duke with some thirty thousand men (that was our estimate of
their number, and their armor seemed too strong for us to break) arrived and killed half of our