THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
horses to be saddled, and that day set out toward Rome, commanding Fulk to ride with the baggage
train, and he did so. So now the whole army was setting out and crossing the peaks of Aspramont.
Gerard meanwhile had joined Flor of Hungary. Together they passed through Rome and Tuscany.
Upon arriving in Lombardy, Gerard announced that Troyan had arrived in Burgundy, but the news
had already spread throughout Tuscany and Lombardy. He asked the King of Hungary to help in
his defense. King Flor replied: “My noble duke, does Charles know of this?” and he answered: “I
would sooner lose all my possessions than send to Charles for help.” The King did not reply
discourteously, but declared that Charles was the noblest king in the world, and urgently besought
him to turn to him in his need. When Gerard grew angry at this, he promised to come to the aid of
his men and then took leave and made his way toward Hungary. Gerard went toward Piedmont,
crossing the Alps, and continued until he entered Vienne.
Charlemagne remained in Rome for three days with the Holy Father. Then he left, crossed Tuscany
and Lombardy, and reached France by a secure route. He at once commanded that an army be
mustered, and ordered those he had nearest him to march against Troyan, son of King Anglant of
Africa, who was now in Burgundy.
The Battle of Vienne
103-104: Troyan Attacks [summary]
Troyan was Anglant’s eldest son, but by a different mother than Almont. Unlike Almont, he was a man full of
wrath and arrogance and devoid of religion, a treacherous friend and a vicious enemy. His forces included eight
crowned kings: his chief commander Pantalis, Nabur of Egypt, Manador of Thrace, Armagot of Atlas, Mordant,
Alfagon, Buteran, and Calisar, Salatiel’s brother, a deadly archer. After crossing into Spain, four more monarchs,
sent by Galafron, joined him: Marsilius, Balugant, Falseron, and the King of Granada. Altogether, Troyan’s army
numbered some three hundred thousand. (The King of Portugal, with a hundred thousand more, intended to come
also, but had embarked on an attempt to invade England. Bad weather drove back his fleet, and by the time he
reached Spain, Troyan was already dead.) Troyan’s army captured Aigues-Mortes, crossed the Rhone, burnt and