Charlemagne Backstories

The man who would become known as Charles the Great[1] was crowned at the age of 20. Following the emphatic advice of his father, Pepin the Short, Charles leaned heavily on Duke Naymon of Bavaria, then 35. In an uncharacteristic burst of adjectives Pepin had described Naymon as “wise, sagacious, clever, loyal, politic, perspicacious, reliable, virtuous, level-headed, brave, and as honest as a man need ever be.” Over the years Charles found all that to be true and more.

At Naymon’s suggestion the Coronation, a huge event, featured a series of informal one-on-one meetings with the great baronial houses. Several facets of the young King’s character had deeply impressed Naymon, and he wanted the great Barons to see them firsthand. First was his tireless energy; enough for any three men. Then the amazing focus; Charles had the knack concentrating wholly on the immediate problem without losing his larger perspective. Next, he demonstrated a positive genius for logistics; the King’s talent in this arena would eventually revolutionize large-scale military tactics and the potential was plain to see already. He also came to the throne with enough ambitious long-term goals to inspire the brave; and with viable short-term plans to achieve those goals, which impressed the canny and seasoned.[2]

Above all, though, Charles exuded an intense personal magnetism. No one left his presence without the impression that they’d seen a truly great man on his way to truly great things.

Ganelon, the 15-year-old heir to the Duchy of Mayence, fell deeply under the young King’s spell. But that was not the only spell he succumbed to in the days that followed.

Charles had many sisters, all of whom were attractive in their various ways, but Berta was special. Now 16, her form and face and manner were so amazing that poets bemoaned the lack of adequate words. Ganelon loved her on sight, not even knowing who she was.

In a twist of fate, that moment occurred just as the young man was finishing a passionate oath of fealty to the King. He gasped, “But as much as I love your Grace and Majesty, for her I would give my life.” Charles saw the object of his adoration and laughed in that special way of his that made the hearer know he was wholeheartedly on your side, laughing with you in sympathy and never in scorn.

“Deal with me true, Ganelon, and you might just get your wish. You and my sister are close in age, and I can think of worse places to see her married than into Mayence.”

Berta, of course, despised the idea as soon as she heard it. Ganelon was “just a boy,” for all he was heir to a Dukedom, and she “deserved a man.” Charles was nothing if not passionate, but Berta was even more so, and hotheaded and willful beside. They had a massive fight, at the end of which he stood on his rights as King and head of her house, while she stormed off in a fury.

Berta may not have been in love when all that occurred, but by the end of the King’s first year on the throne she was. The object of her passion – and it was eagerly returned – was a knight named Milon, the younger son of an Italian Count. Like many other bachelor knights (i.e., men without an inheritance), he had gravitated to the Frankish court in the hope of finding favor and advancement. He was a year or two older than Charles and quickly became a rising star in the royal retinue. Milon had exceptional skills in the knightly arts, had grown up in the cultured South, and if there had been such things as recruiting posters for the medieval ideal, he would have been on one. He looked exactly like the sort of “real man” that Berta wanted. And so she went out and got him.

Their private idyll ended on the day that Charles called her into his chambers and announced that she would have to be married soon. He would be bringing a number of appropriate matches to meet her over the next few months, including Ganelon of Mayence, and if she didn’t see a reason to pick one over the others then he would do it for her. He wasn’t unkind about the ultimatum – she was getting a choice after all – but he was unshakably firm. Berta exploded, but Charles would not be moved.

She and Milon made their plans. If the King would not relent, they would escape to his home in the south. The moment of truth occurred a few months later, when the party from Mayence came to visit that winter. The lovers fled into the night.

Charles was enraged. He gave Ganelon permission to lead a troop of 100 knights to bring her back. (She was to be returned alive at all costs, but the head of her beau was optional). It was also implied that success would enhance Ganelon’s marital prospects.

Ganelon pursued the pair into the very teeth of the worst blizzard that anyone could remember, only giving up when his men reached the southern Alps, found snowdrifts higher than a horse’s head, and woke one morning to find two knights frozen to death. Since it was impossible that a pampered princess could have survived those rigors when strong knights couldn’t, he regretfully turned around.

Milon and Berta did survive, though only just. They forced their way over the mountains and found refuge in a cave above the city of Atri. Their plan was to rest until spring and then continue south until they found the lands of his father. There they would live until the first child came, at which point they hoped that Charles would relent. The royal temper was known to cool as fast as it ignited, and since he loved both the idea and the reality of family they hoped that a baby – especially a little nephew – would allay his wrath.

Once again fate intervened. While scouting around the outskirts of Atri for food, Milon discovered that the Saracens had invaded Italy late the prior year. Rome was under siege by the Saracen King Corsuble, and other troops were moving as fast as possible to secure a defense against the certain response by Charles. Atri controlled one of the main passes and was therefore a key target.

In the best romantic fashion, Milon became the mysterious knight who would arrive at the scene of battle, save the day, and then vanish before anyone could learn who he was or give him a proper thanks. His final appearance came in the climactic struggle against the Saracen prince who generaled the northern arm of their army. The Duke of Atri had been struck down and his standard taken up by Reyner, his 19-year old son. The battle was going against the defenders, largely because the Saracen prince and his champion both had magical swords that no one could withstand, when the mystery knight rode over the hill. Milon drew the heathen champion away and eventually slew him after a long and fearsome duel in which both knights received terrible wounds. The day wasn’t over yet, however, for the Saracen prince charged in to take his revenge. That struggle went on until both their horses were slain and they ended up battling on foot. The enemy prince appeared to have won when he thrust his sword through Milon’s body, armor and all, but even as he was being impaled Milon took up the sword of the fallen champion and struck off the prince’s head.[3]

Duke Reyner arrived just in time for a suitable death scene at which he learned all about Milon’s secret identity. Reyner gave his oath to the dying knight that he would look after the Princess and keep their secret. He then climbed up to the cave and related the whole sorry tale to the very pregnant Berta, who collapsed in grief as every good maiden should.

After she came back to her senses Berta refused to come down from the cave for fear that she’d be recognized.[4] Reyner accordingly made arrangements to have her supplied in secret. To defend herself he gave her the sword of the Saracen prince (Durandal). The plan went perfectly with only one exception. Reyner had promised to send the castle midwife to look after Berta during the birth, but as luck would have it Reyner’s own wife went into labor at the exact same time as Berta. By the time the midwife was free to go, Berta had given birth alone.

In keeping with his vow, Duke Reyner opened the doors of the castle to young Roland and made sure that he received the exact same education as his own son. The two boys grew into a fierce childhood rivalry; though hatred might be a better word. They were both head and shoulders better at every drill than boys who were several years older, and they resented each other bitterly. Oliver was the beautiful “golden boy”, the son of the Duke and the sunshine of everyone’s eye. Roland was the dark-haired, grim-faced urchin who wore skins in the winter and disappeared each night to no-one-knew-where. Roland thought that Oliver was a spoiled little goody-goody. Oliver couldn’t understand why Roland was even permitted into the castle, let alone to the presence of wellborn children. Duke Reyner would make no changes, however.

The two finally got into a private fight where no one could interrupt. It occurred on their mutual 8^th birthday and went on for hours. Both were surprised at the other’s grit, and neither was able to win. They earned each other’s respect instead, and from that day forward become inseparable friends.

Two years later Charlemagne stopped at Atri on a tour of his Italian lands. Charles, Reyner, and their respective vassals were enjoying a fine feast when a ragged, black-haired boy sauntered into the hall.[5] He strolled up to the King, paused for a moment, and then removed a choice leg of lamb and some bread from the high table. Then he turned and walked – walked – out of the hall. The sheer gall of it held everyone motionless until the boy was gone.

Ganelon, who had distinguished himself so greatly that he was now enjoying the honor of serving the King’s supper directly, returned from an errand to find the hall abuzz. Most people were shocked at the story, and most of the rest were laughing, but Ganelon reacted with rage. He was the King’s server, so he bore the shame of having food stolen from the King’s own plate. He secretly sent half a dozen of his household knights to drag the little thief back, preferably after a suitable bit of preliminary chastising.

Meanwhile the King leaned over to Duke Naymon and said something along the lines of, “What a gutsy kid! Did you ever see the like? He reminds me of someone but I can’t place who.”

Naymon agreed, saying to himself ‘He actually reminds me of you, your Majesty, when you were that age.’ He also set out to pursue the boy.

The knights from Mayence (Ganelon’s men) had little trouble following the boy’s trail up to the mountain cave.[6] They had a lot of trouble getting in, however. “You’ve not the permission of my lady mother and so you shall not pass,” declared the boy in an oh-so-formal 10-year-old voice. They were suitably unimpressed, but the little snot took up a branch and proceeded to pound the bejeezes out of anyone who tried to climb up.

They finally got so embarrassed that they decided the “preliminary chastising” might as well be fatal. Out came the swords, and they charged the cave en masse. The boy continued to put up a tremendous fight – even managing to drive off the first wave – but the final outcome was inevitable.

Duke Naymon arrived on the scene just in time to prevent anyone from getting killed. He ordered the knights to stand down, and since Naymon was the closest thing Charlemagne had to a Chief of Staff they had no choice but to obey. The boy, though, was still defiant. “No one shall pass without the leave of my lady mother!”

“An entirely proper demand,” the Duke acknowledged. “Please ask your mother to come out so that I may ask her permission directly.” Berta appeared at the side of her son. Naymon recognized her immediately, of course, and she him. The game was up.

They returned to the King, who immediately forgave all sins. He acknowledged Roland as his lawful nephew and gave him into the care of Richard of Normandy to be raised as a proper Frankish knight and baron. Berta was also invited to return to court, but she declared that since no man could hold her heart after the loss of Milon she would give her remaining years to God. She accordingly took her holy vows and retired to an abbey.

Several years passed as Roland grew up. They were filled with notable events but he was only peripherally involved. The Saracens invaded Italy again, led by Admiral Balan and King Guithelm. They conquered Rome, with the Admiral’s son Fierabras killing the Pope and spitting down his headless neck.[7] Charlemagne drove them out in another series of hard-fought engagements, culminating in the Battle of Pavia, which the King barely survived. Three of his northern Dukes failed to show up,[8] and the battle would have been lost completely if Salomon of Bretagne hadn’t arrived unlooked for with 30,000 men.

The most notable parts of the Battle of Pavia from Roland’s point of view of view were the events that led the knighting of Ogier the Dane. Ogier had been sent to Charlemagne’s court as a hostage for the good behavior of his father, the King of Denmark. The good behavior was not forthcoming and Ogier (then 17) was sentenced to death. Ogier was such a model character, however, that Duke Naymon intervened and had the boy “paroled” into his care. The Battle of Pavia took place 8 years later when Ogier was 25 and Roland 13.

Ogier was still unknighted, of course, and was therefore relegated to looking after the squires and other boys who were along for the experience. At the height of the battle, when all looked to be lost, the boys saw Ganelon’s cousin Aloys fleeing from the battle with the Oriflamme (Charlemagne’s banner) in hand. The behavior was not only cowardly but also potentially disastrous. Ogier (unarmored) rode up and blocked Aloys’ escape. Aloys drew a blade, but Ogier knocked him flying anyway. Ogier then put on Aloys armor and rode back into the thick of battle with the Oriflamme held high. His assault rescued the King and paved the way to victory.

That night the King called Aloys into court to receive a special reward for making that heroic charge. Ogier was too honorable to speak up on his own behalf and Aloys was such a louse that accepting a reward he hadn’t earned didn’t bother him in the slightest. Roland, however, had seen the whole thing, and he had never learned to keep quiet about something he didn’t like. The upshot was that Ogier was pardoned, knighted and gifted with the magic sword Cortana,[9] Aloys was disgraced (but escaped being condemned), and Roland earned the general dislike of the Mayence contingent.

Five years later that dislike became worse. Ganelon had become a mainstay of the Dozperes[10] and a famous warrior. When Roland turned 18, Richard of Normandy brought him back to court for a “coming out party.” (Knowing what he was bringing, Richard also made a number of side-bets on the outcome of that day’s jousting).

Roland was a prodigy. He had the ability to learn how to do things from simply seeing them done. That day he spent a lot of time watching Ganelon, and when they met in the finals he used one of Ganelon’s own favorite tricks against him. Ganelon went flying ass over kettle and landed in a great pile of mud and dung. Roland (who was never much good at interpersonal things) led the laughing.

A year later the King was off to subdue the rebellious Duke of Vienne, a city in the French Alps. The siege had gone on for months when word came of a Saracen invasion from Spain. Charlemagne couldn’t afford to leave the situation untended, but he hated the idea of raising the siege. He and the Duke of Vienne accordingly agreed to settle their differences with a trial by combat. Each party would send a single champion to an island in the Rhône. The one whose champion lost would agree to at least the main terms of the other.

Charlemagne sent Roland, figuring that he had a ringer. The fight didn’t end as planned, however. In fact it never seemed to end at all! After ten minutes the partisans on both sides were thoroughly proud of their representative. After half an hour they could barely believe the fight could still be going on. The level of intensity was incredible. After two hours, they were all struck dumb with awe. But it still didn’t stop.

At the 8-hour mark both of them lost their swords. Without a pause they fell to wrestling, each twisting and turning at the other’s helmet. The helmets popped off at the exact same moment, and both men stumbled back. They leapt to their feet . . . and each one recognized the other. Roland and Oliver had reprised the battle they’d had as children, and as they’d ended that day they did on this one. With tears of joy and vows of everlasting friendship, they fell on each other with hugs instead of blows.

Taught by this example, Charlemagne and the Duke of Vienne made their peace. Oliver was immediately made the newest of the Twelve Peers and the armies marched off together to fight the Saracens.

The Saracens didn’t cooperate, however. They fled back to Spain leaving a rear guard of one at a key bridge over the Pyrenees; the giant Ferragus, who had an invulnerable hide.[11] Ferragus had already defeated Renaud of Montauban, who had made one of his temporary peaces with the King and now commanded the army’s advance guard. When Charlemagne arrived, Ferragus quickly defeated Ogier the Dane as well. Strong as Ogier was, Ferragus ignored his blows, picked the knight up, and dropped him into a boulder-covered pit. After Ogier went Oliver. He lasted a little longer but also fell.

At that point Ferragus made a mistake. Oliver had been such a tough fight that the giant spent a moment to kick the unconscious knight across the field. It was a disgraceful act that set Roland’s heart aflame. The fight went on for the rest of the day, but Roland triumphed at last. The Saracens were gone (for now), but everyone knew they’d pay. Roland had become the greatest knight in the world – and he was still not 20 years old.

[1] Note: These stories concern the Charlemagne of romance and not the one of history. I’ve tried to be informed by history, but this is no more the truth of what actually happened than James Bond gives a true picture of modern-day espionage. To be perfectly fair, a lot of these stories don’t even match up to the Romance version; several were made up whole cloth to fill in what I saw as “gaps.”

[2] Of particular note, he instituted a set of uniform standards for the martial abilities that would-be knights should have. This innovation raised the level of training across the kingdom and ensured that different groups spoke the same “language” of strategy and tactics. It accounted for much of his armies’ success over the decades that followed.

[3] The swords turn out to be Hautclere and Durandal.

[4] Probably a wise choice. Charlemagne did pass through the next summer to take his revenge, and Berta was nothing if not noticeable. The Frankish army laid siege to Rome and finally drove the Saracens out after a battle in which Duke Richard of Normandy killed King Corsuble.

[5] Remember that all the guards in Atri know that the boy has free run of the castle.

[6] After all these years there was probably a real “trail” for them to follow.

[7] Admiral Balan and Fierabras are the central characters in Charlemagne and the Admiral of Spain, set a dozen or so years later.

[8] Benes of Aigremont, Gerard of Roussillon and Ronald of Nantuell. This was the precipitating event that led to the events recounted in The Four Sons of Aimon.

[9] Ogier also earned the eternal friendship of the Kings of Lombardy. When Ogier and Charlemagne had their final break a few decades later it was to Pavia that Ogier fled. That was when the famous scene recounted in Longfellow’s poem Charlemagne occurred.

[10] “The Twelve Peers.” For purposes of internal consistency – and this is something I’ve made up whole cloth – knights were promoted to being one of the Twelve Peers for a year at a time based on conspicuous acts of courage, and given special honors such as a seat at the King’s table. One new knight was appointed each month, hence the limit to twelve at a time. You could serve several times, but each had to be based on a new deed. The rank of “Paladin” was bestowed on knights who had been members of this elite group at least once.

[11] You can find a recorded version of Roland and Ferragus on my CD. Click here to listen to an excerpt.

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