Romance-era stories around Charlemagne, Roland, Rinaldo, Ogier, Huon, and their companions.
Bulfinch's Mythology
Paladins, quests, and epics
Legends of Charlemagne
Romance-era stories around Charlemagne, Roland, Rinaldo, Ogier, Huon, and their companions.
Chapter list
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Legends of Charlemagne
Introduction
Those who have investigated the origin of the romantic fables relating to Charlemagne and his peers are of opinion that the deeds of Charles Martel, and perhaps of other...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE PEERS, OR PALADINS
The twelve most illustrious knights of Charlemagne were called Peers, for the equality that reigned among them; while the name of Paladins, also conferred on them, implies that...
Legends of Charlemagne
ORLANDO
Milon, or Milone, a knight of great family, and distantly related to Charlemagne, having secretly married Bertha, the Emperor's sister, was banished from France, and...
Legends of Charlemagne
ROLAND AND FERRAGUS
Orlando, or Roland, particularly distinguished himself by his combat with Ferragus. Ferragus was a giant, and moreover his skin was of such impenetrable stuff that no sword...
Legends of Charlemagne
A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER
Guerin de Montglave held the lordship of Vienne, subject to Charlemagne. He had quarrelled with his sovereign, and Charles laid siege to his city, having ravaged the...
Legends of Charlemagne
RINALDO
Rinaldo was one of the four sons of Aymon, who married Aya, the sister of Charlemagne. Thus Rinaldo was nephew to Charlemagne and cousin of Orlando.
Legends of Charlemagne
THE TOURNAMENT
It was the month of May, and the feast of Pentecost. Charlemagne had ordered magnificent festivities, and summoned to them, besides his paladins and vassals of the crown, all...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE SIEGE OF ALBRACCA
At the very time when Charlemagne was holding his plenary court and his great tournament his kingdom was invaded by a mighty monarch, who was moreover so valiant and strong in...
Legends of Charlemagne
ADVENTURES OF RINALDO AND ORLANDO
We left Rinaldo when, having overcome the monster, he quitted the castle of Altaripa, and pursued his way on foot. He soon met with a weeping damsel, who, being questioned as...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE INVASION OF FRANCE
Agramant, King of Africa, convoked the kings, his vassals, to deliberate in council. He reminded them of the injuries he had sustained from France, that his father had fallen...
Legends of Charlemagne
BRADAMANTE AND ROGERO
Bradamante, the knight of the white plume and shield, whose sudden appearance and encounter with Sacripant we have already told, was in quest of Rogero, from whom chance had...
Legends of Charlemagne
ASTOLPHO AND THE ENCHANTRESS
In the long flight which Rogero took on the back of the Hippogriff he was carried over land and sea, unknowing whither. As soon as he had gained some control over the animal he...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE ORC
We left the charming Angelica at the moment when, in her flight from her contending lovers, Sacripant and Rinaldo, she met an aged hermit. We have seen that her request to the...
Legends of Charlemagne
ASTOLPHO'S ADVENTURES CONTINUED, AND ISABELLA'S BEGUN
When Astolpho escaped from the cruel Alcina, after a short abode in the realm of the virtuous Logestilla, he desired to return to his native country. Logestilla lent him the...
Legends of Charlemagne
MEDORO
France was at this time the theatre of dreadful events. The Saracens and the Christians, in numerous encounters, slew one another. On one occasion Rinaldo led an attack on the...
Legends of Charlemagne
ORLANDO MAD
Orlando, on the loss of Angelica, laid aside his crest and arms, and arrayed himself in a suit of black armor expressive of his despair. In this guise he carried such slaughter...
Legends of Charlemagne
ZERBINO AND ISABELLA
Zerbino's pain at seeing the Tartar prince go off with the sword surpassed the anguish of his wound; but now the loss of blood so reduced his strength that he could not move...
Legends of Charlemagne
ASTOLPHO IN ABYSSINIA
When we last parted with the adventurous paladin Astolpho, he was just commencing that flight over the countries of the world from which he promised himself so much...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE WAR IN AFRICA
When Astolpho had descended to the earth with the precious phial, St. John showed him a plant of marvellous virtues, with which he told him he had only to touch the eyes of the...
Legends of Charlemagne
ROGERO AND BRADAMANTE
After the interruption of the combat with Rinaldo, as we have related, Rogero was perplexed with doubts what course to take. The terms of the treaty required him to abandon...
Legends of Charlemagne
THE BATTLE OF RONCESVALLES
After the expulsion of the Saracens from France Charlemagne led his army into Spain, to punish Marsilius, the king of that country, for having sided with the African Saracens...
Legends of Charlemagne
RINALDO AND BAYARD
CHARLEMAGNE was overwhelmed with grief at the loss of so many of his bravest warriors at the disaster of Roncesvalles, and bitterly reproached himself for his credulity in...
Legends of Charlemagne
DEATH OF RINALDO
THE distress in Rinaldo's castle for want of food grew more severe every day, under the pressure of the siege. The garrison were forced to kill their horses, both to save the...
Legends of Charlemagne
HUON OF BORDEAUX
WHEN Charlemagne grew old he felt the burden of government become heavier year by year, till at last he called together his high barons and peers to propose to abdicate the...
Legends of Charlemagne
OGIER, THE DANE
OGIER, the Dane, was the son of Geoffrey, who wrested Denmark from the Pagans, and reigned the first Christian king of that country. When Ogier was born, and before he was...