THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

Anonymous, THE EXPLOITS IN SPAIN (LI FATTI DI SPAGNA)
Prelude to War
Charlemagne’s Council
1
One morning, while Charlemagne was holding court in his royal chapel, 78 he began to speak,
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© 2009 Max Wickert
carrying a taper in one hand, with all his barons assembled before him, in the following manner.
Placing his hand below his throat and sighing heavily, he said: “My lords, by the true God, I must
tell you of a great miracle that He has shown me: For three nights now a pilgrim appeared to me in
my chamber, menacing me, making me realize that I must go and conquer the Highway of Saint
James from the people who do not believe the Faith of Jesus Christ or His Mother. He pointed out
the road to me. It happened for three nights, one after the other, so that I scarcely slept at all. And
thus I was put in mind of what I had indeed promised Jesus Christ and His Mother and Saint James
of Vienne 79 after our war with Gerard of the Thicket was concluded and fair Alda was espoused to
Count Roland; and indeed you all vowed that, if God gave us a happy victory, to crown Count
Roland king of all Spain. Until now I had forgotten this, but I have no wish for my words to be
given the lie. By my title of Emperor, which I hold from the see of Rome, I shall never desist from
going to Galicia, until I have conquered to Highway of Saint James. I require you all to contribute
to this victory, for I will put all my treasure and all my belongings into this venture: I myself shall
fight with my own sword, and do so more gladly than when I returned to my dominions after being
78 In his royal chapel: in la sova capella Domino. The manuscript reading is puzzling, but the reference seems to be
to the imperial chapel at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle).
79 Saint James of Vienne: Either a slip or a scribal error. The saint particularly worshiped in Vienne is Saint
Anthony Abbot (see Aspramont, III.144)