Gerart van Rossiliun (ca. 1350)
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Chansons de Geste
Gerart van Rossiliun (ca. 1350)
Naumann, H.: Altdeutsches Prosalesebuch. (=Trübners Bibliothek 5) Strassburg 1916. p. 147-160.
GeRo-381:
A furious and bloody battle between the armies of Karl and his vassal Gerart of Rossiliun is fought on the banks of the river Vienne and on the Silvan plain; single combat between warriors.
Motif References:
P 50.0.2 (Bm) Knight who acknowledges no overlord [Allegiance: loyalty and disloyalty of vassals]
P 550.1 (Li) Battle. War
P 550.2 (Li) Single combat
F 1084 Furious battle [fight]
GeRo-389:
Ayme’s war-cry is “Valunt!”.
Motif References:
P 557 Military customs
GeRo-390:
The battle takes place on a Saturday. The water of the river Vienne is red with blood.
Motif References:
F 1084.1 Deep streams of blood flow during battle
GeRo-402:
1000 knights arrive on the battlefield without their shields. Bernart is entombed in a small church in Charroux, where Gerart founds an abbey and donates sacred relics (part of the crown of thorns, one of the nails from the holy cross).
Motif References:
V 118 Monasteries [cloisters, abbeys, nunneries]
V 140 Sacred relics
GeRo-403:
Gerart and Karl, his opponent, leave the battlefield. Karl wins Gerart’s vassals over to his side by force or by bribes, so Gerart’s vassals abandon their former leader.
Motif References:
P 14.24 (Bm) Emperor wrongly seizes property
P 614 (Bm) Bribes
GeRo-406:
In the meantime, the citizens of Aveniun, one of Gerart’s towns, desert to Karl. Fulke, one of Gerart’s vassals, and his warriors destroy the royal town Borbun in revenge.
Motif References:
Q 261 Treachery punished
Q 595 Loss or destruction of property as punishment
K 2299 Other villains and traitors – miscellaneous
GeRo-407:
Fulke, Gerart’s loyal follower, learns from the bishop of Ortun that Karl has won over to his side Gerart’s towns of Diun, Verdun, Vatulun, Lantrage and Laubrun, and that Gerart has ridden there; Fulke follows him and prays for God’s help.
Motif References:
P 14.24 (Bm) Emperor wrongly seizes property
V 50 Prayer
GeRo-409:
Gerart again battles Karl, but finally has to retreat; Karl has a camp erected on the battlefield. [lacuna]
Motif References:
P 555 Defeat in battle [single combat]
GeRo-631:
Hugo of Blois is sent as a messenger to Karl to ask for mercy.
Motif References:
P 14.15.2 Court messenger
GeRo-632:
Karl rejects the plea for mercy. Hugo promises peace and the release of prisoners.
Motif References:
P 12 Character of kings
M 200 Bargains and promises
P 559 (Li) Peace: making and conditions of peace (ransom, reparations, submission)
GeRo-633:
The pope dissuades Karl from his pride, and reminds him of the support he once got from Gerart and his vassals: Gerart helped Karl’s son Pippin to become emperor; Fulke once spared his life. A law court takes place on a plain by the river Seine. The pope – sitting in an elevated position – gives a speech in favor of peace; he argues that it would also be appreciated by the souls in purgatory. Gerart and Fulke must humiliate themselves and ask for mercy.
Motif References:
W 11.5 Generosity toward enemy
P 17.0.2 Son succeeds father as king
P 121 (Bm) Pope
V 294 The Pope
P 510 Law courts
GeRo-635:
Gerart and Fulke humiliate themselves and come barefoot and bareheaded to Karl. Gerart and the others hand over their swords pommel first and bow at his feet. They reconcile with Karl with a kiss and get back their fiefs. Then they swear loyalty to the kinsmen of Duke Tyderik. Finally, they raise their hands and forgive each other.
Motif References:
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
M 150 Other vows and oaths
P 548 Miscellaneous legal customs [problems]
GeRo-636:
The pope wants Karl (who is called “the Hammer” after his father, as they had both done so many bad things) to change his name into Karl the Bald and to rule from then on as a just and peaceful king. Karl agrees and founds many abbeys.
Motif References:
P 12 Character of kings
P 19 Other motifs connected with kings
V 118 Monasteries [cloisters, abbeys, nunneries]
P 121 (Bm) Pope
V 294 The Pope
Z 730 (Bm) Eponymous account of personal name
GeRo-639:
Karl consents to Fulke’s proposal concerning his impoverished knights: to guarantee the defense of the country, they shall be supported with everything they need.
Motif References:
P 50.0.1 King and vassals: obligations of vassals to king [Feudality: mutual relationship between king and vassals]
GeRo-650:
Gerart’s servant brings him bad news. Apparently his wife is unfaithful to him. Gerart mourns and does not eat, drink, nor sleep anymore.
Motif References:
F 1041.21.3 Refusal to eat [drink, sleep] from excessive grief
GeRo-653:
Bedelun dissuades Gerart from believing his servant and tells him a story. As the Emperor of Constantinople wanted heavenly reward for himself, he forbade anyone else except for his workers to participate in the building of the church of St Sophie (Sophie: epithet of God). But a poor woman fed and watered the donkeys, and her reward, as God told the emperor through a messenger, was greater than the emperor’s.
Motif References:
P 12 Character of kings
Q 51 Kindness to animals rewarded
V 111 Churches
A 165.2.3 Angels as God’s messengers
Q 170 Religious rewards
A 182.3 God (angel) speaks to mortal
W 200 Traits of character – miscellaneous
V 410 Charity rewarded
V 430 Charity – miscellaneous motifs
GeRo-655:
Gerart dreams that his wife gives him a drink from the wine Christ made from water. Endicas interprets the dream as a sign of her innocence.
Motif References:
Z 100 Symbolism
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party
GeRo-662:
Gerart’s wife, the countess, wants to build a church exclusively by herself; the expenses will be covered by her and Gerart’s money.
Motif References:
V 111 Churches
GeRo-663:
Gerart’s suspicions are now relieved: his wife was slandered as an adulteress by the servant Atwin. Atwin avoided punishment by fleeing.
Motif References:
R 220 Flights
K 2112 Woman slandered as adulteress (prostitute) [concubine]
K 2250.1 Treacherous servant
GeRo-664:
Garsias, a monk, interprets the dream of Gerart’s wife: the snake-like devil was the slanderer; the poison he offered her was his lie.
Motif References:
Z 100 Symbolism
D 1812.3.3.5 Prophetic dream allegorical
D 1812.3.3.0.4 (Bm) Interpretation of dream by second party
GeRo-665:
Gerart recognizes the long-bearded pilgrim who comes to see him as one of his vassals as Count Gunderam of Allemannie, who was chased from his country during the war with Karl. He wants to refund him his losses, which Gunderam refuses. Gunderam speaks German and “Welsch”.
Motif References:
W 47 (Hi) Humility and modesty
N 760 Other accidental encounters
GeRo-666:
Gunderam made a pilgrimage to the Holy Grave; on his return, he was taken captive by a heathen and had to do forced labor.
Motif References:
R 9 Captivity – miscellaneous
R 50 Conditions of captivity
P 56.1 (Bm) Knight [noble] becomes pilgrim [monk]
V 85 Religious pilgrimages
V 535 Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
GeRo-667:
He was liberated by St. Magdalene, who was sent to him by God.
Motif References:
R 165 Rescue by saint (holy man)
V 229 Saints – miscellaneous
N 848 Saint (pious man) as helper
GeRo-668:
Gunderam refuses land and goods offered by Gerart. He only needs a place where he can be buried after his death.
Motif References:
W 47 (Hi) Humility and modesty
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