Charlemagne and His Legend in Early Spanish Literature and Historiography (Bristol Studies in Medieval Cultures): 6

The historical point of departure for this volume is Charlemagne's ill-fated incursion into Spain in 778. After an unsuccessful siege of Zaragoza, the king of the Franks directed his army north and on his passage through the Pyrenees, he turned his wrath on Pamplona, destroying the Basque city and its walls. The Basques subsequently ambushed the rearguard of Charlemagne's army on the heights of Pyrenees, killing numerous officers of the palace, plundering the baggage, and then vanishing into the forested hills, leaving the Franks to grieve without the satisfaction of revenge. In Spain, popular narratives eventually diverted their attention away from the Franks to the Spaniards responsible for their slaughter. This volume explores those legendary narratives of the Spaniards who defeated Charlemagne's army and the larger textual and cultural context of his presence in Spain, from before their careful elaboration in Latin and vernacular chronicles into the early modern period. It shares with previous studies a focus on the narration of historical and imaginary events across genres, but is unique in its emphasis on the reception and evolution of the legendary figure of Charlemagne in Spain. Overall, its purpose is to address the diversity and importance of the Carolingian legends in the literary, historical, and imaginative spheres during the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and into the seventeenth century. New examinations of the figure of Charlemagne in Spanish literature and culture.The historical point of departure for this volume is Charlemagne's ill-fated incursion into Spain in 778. After an unsuccessful siege of Zaragoza, the king of the Franks directed his army north and on his passage through the Pyrenees, he turned his wrath on Pamplona, destroying the Basque city and its walls. The Basques subsequently ambushed the rearguard of Charlemagne's army on the heights of Pyrenees, killing numerous officers of the palace, plunderingthe baggage, and then vanishing into the forested hills, leaving the Franks to grieve without the satisfaction of revenge. In Spain, popular narratives eventually diverted their attention away from the Franks to the Spaniards responsible for their slaughter. This volume explores those legendary narratives of the Spaniards who defeated Charlemagne's army and the larger textual and cultural context of his presence in Spain, from before their careful elaboration in Latin and vernacular chronicles into the early modern period. It shares with previous studies a focus on the narration of historical and imaginary events across genres, but is unique in its emphasis on the reception and evolution of the legendary figure of Charlemagne in Spain. Overall, its purpose is to address the diversity and importance of the Carolingian legends in the literary, historical, and imaginative spheres during the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and into the seventeenth century. Matthew Bailey is Professor of Spanish at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia; Ryan D. Giles is Associate Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University, Bloomington. Contributors: Frederick A. de Armas, Matthew Bailey, Anibal Biglieri, Ryan D. Giles, Lucy K. Pick, Mercedes Vaquero. New examinations of the figure of Charlemagne in Spanish literature and culture. The historical point of departure for this volume is Charlemagne's ill-fated incursion into Spain in 778. After an unsuccessful siege of Zaragoza, the king of the Franks directed his army north and on his passage through the Pyrenees, he turned his wrath on Pamplona, destroying the Basque city and its walls. The Basques subsequently ambushed the rearguard of Charlemagne's army on the heights of Pyrenees, killing numerous officers of the palace, plunderingthe baggage, and then vanishing into the forested hills, leaving the Franks to grieve without the satisfaction of revenge. In Spain, popular narratives eventually diverted their attention away from the Franks to the Spaniards responsible for their slaughter. This volume explores those legendary narratives of the Spaniards who defeated Charlemagne's army and the larger textual and cultural context of his presence in Spain, from before their careful elaboration in Latin and vernacular chronicles into the early modern period. It shares with previous studies a focus on the narration of historical and imaginary events across genres, but is unique in its emphasis on the reception and evolution of the legendary figure of Charlemagne in Spain. Overall, its purpose is to address the diversity and importance of the Carolingian legends in the literary, historical, and imaginative spheres during the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and into the seventeenth century. Matthew Bailey is Professor of Spanish at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia; Ryan D. Giles is Associate Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Indiana University, Bloomington. Frederick A. de Armas, Matthew Bailey, Anibal Biglieri, Ryan D. Giles, Lucy K. Pick, Mercedes Vaquero. The Legend Of Charlemagne Is A Strong Motif In The Literature Of Medieval And Early Modern Spain. The Essays In This Volume Consider The Narration Of Both The Historical And Imaginary Events Across Different Genres; How The Figure Of Charlemagne Evolved And Diversified; And The Importance And Influence Of The Charlemagne Legends In Literary And Historical Culture During The Middle Ages And Beyond. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Charlemagne As A Creative Force In The Spanish Epic / Matthew Bailey -- 2. Rebel Nephews And Royal Sisters: The Tale Of Bernardo Del Carpio / Lucy K. Pick -- 3. The Old Counselors In The Roncesvals Matiere And The Spanish Epic / Mercedes Vaquero -- 4. The Construction Of Space And Place In The Narrative: Cuento Del Enperador Carlos Maynes De Roma E De La Buena Enperatris Seuilla, Su Mugier / Anibal A. Biglieri -- 5. Converting The Saracen: The Historia Del Emperador Carlomagno And The Christianization Of Granada / Ryan D. Giles -- 6. Charlemagne And Agramante: Confusing Camps In Cervantes' El Laberinto De Amor, La Casa De Los Celos And Don Quijote / Frederick A. De Armas. Edited By Matthew Bailey And Ryan D. Giles. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Frontcover Contents Contributors General Preface. Charlemagne: A European Icon Acknowledgements Introduction 1 Charlemagne as a Creative Force in the Spanish Epic 2 Rebel Nephews and Royal Sisters: The Tale of Bernardo del Carpio 3 The Old Counselors in the Roncesvals Matière and the Spanish Epic 4 The Construction of Space and Place in the Narrative: Cuento del enperador Carlos Maynes de Roma e de la buena enperatris Seuilla, su mugier Converting the Saracen: The Historia del emperador Carlomagno and the Christianization of Granada 6 Charlemagne and Agramante: Confusing Camps in Cervantes’ El laberinto de amor, La casa de los celos and Don Quijote Postscript. Later Disseminations in the Hispanic Ballad Tradition and Other Works Bibliography Index