Carolingian Romance

Horn of Charlemagne, 11th Century, Musée de Cluny, Paris

THINGS

Alfano - Horse of Gradasso [OF] [OI]

Almace (Almacia) - Sword of Turpin, it was forged by Wayland the smith who also made Cortana and Durendal [KS] [OF]

Altachiera - Sword of Oliver [OF] [OI]

Arms of Aumont - Armor of Roland, which he won by slaying Aumont [OF]

Auferan (Al-Ferran, Ferrant) - Arabian horse, horse of Claron [A] [F]

Balm of Fierabras - Balm carried by Fierabras, this is the balm with which the body of Christ was anointed, it heals all wounds as soon as it touches the lips of the wounded [F]

Banner of Saint Denis - Dragon banner born by the French knights [F]

Baptism (Baptisme) - One of three swords owned by Fierabras, the other two are Florence and Garamante, the three swords were made by Aurizans, it has a gold enameled hilt, Oliver wields it against Fierabras, it emits a great light [F]

Barbamouche - Horse of the Saracen Climborin [OF]

Bataldo - Horse of Brandimarte [OI]

Bayard (Baiardo) - Horse of Renaud [FSA] [OF] [OI]

Bearded Masks - Masks with beards and horns worn by the Saracens at the battle of Córdoba to make them look like demons and to frighten the horses of the French knights [HCG]

Beausant (Baucent) - Horse of Bréhier, horse of Richard of Normandy [F] [OTD]

Belisarda - Sword of Rogero [OF]

Belt of Floripar - Magical belt, the wearer does not age, is immune to poison, and does not need to eat, it is stolen by Malpy the Thief, it is accidently thrown into the sea and is lost [F]

Blanchart (Blancart, Tencendur) - Horse of Charlemagne [F] [OF] [OTD]

Bondino - War-horn of Renaud [OF] [OI]

Bréhier's Ointment - Magical balm that heals and cures all wounds instantly [OTD]

Broiefort (Bifolen) - Horse of Ogier, he wins it from Brunamont, the horse is all black with a white star on his forehead, he can run for three days and nights without tiring, he can jump over a river in a single leap [OTD]

Castle of the Red Banner - Castle drawn by oxen the sight of which prevents Saracen troops from fleeing [HCG]

Cortain (Cortana, Kurtein, Kurt) - Sword of Ogier the Dane, he wins it from Caraheut in a joust, according to Karlamagnus Saga it was forged by Wayland the smith who also made Almace and Durendal, according to Fierabras it was forged by Wayland's brother Murificans, it is short because it was broken and reforged, it's name indicates that it is shortened, it is the strongest sword in the world [A] [F] [KS] [OF] [OTD]

Cross of Pope Milo - Cross which contains a piece of the True Cross, Turpin carries it into battle against Agolante, it casts a marvelous glow across the battlefield [A]

Crown of Thorns - Crown worn by Jesus at his crucifixion [F]

Durendal (Durandal, Durindana, Durenda) - Sword of Roland, according to Karlamagnus Saga it was forged by Wayland the smith who also made Almace and Cortana, according to Fierabras it was forged by Wayland's brother Murificans, it has a hilt of white ivory decorated with a golden cross-guard and a berylline apple, it is engraved with the sacred name of God, according to Li Reali Francia it was won by Charlemagne during a joust with king Polinoro, according to Aspremont Roland wins the sword in his victory over Aumont, Charlemagne girds the sword to Roland's side when he is knighted [A] [F] [GB] [HCG] [KS] [LRF] [O] [OF] [OI] [PC] [SR] [WC]

Florence (Plousance) - One of three swords owned by Fierabras, the other two are Baptism and Garamante, the name means flowering, the three swords were made by Aurizans [F]

Fountain of Disdain - Drinking from its waters makes you despise the next person you see [OF]

Fountain of Love - Drinking from its waters makes you fall in love with the next person you see [OF]

Four Idols - Statues of Mahomet, Tervagant, Apolin, and Jupiter which are carried by the army of Aumont [A]

Froberge (Fusberta) - Sword of Renaud, forged by Wayland [F] [FSA] [OF] [OI]

Frontino (Frontilate) - Horse of Rogero which he won from king Sacripant [OF] [OI]

Gaignun - Horse of the Saracen king Marsilius [OF]

Garamante (Grabam) - One of three swords owned by Fierabras, the other two are Baptism and Florence, the name refers to an ancient group of people that lived in the Saharan desert, the three swords were made by Aurizans [F]

Golden Eagle - Statue that decorates the top of Charlemagne's pavilion [A]

Golden Lance - Argalia's magical lance that unseats all opponents without fail [OF]

Gramimond - Horse of the Saracen Valdabrun [OF]

Hauberk of Macabré - Impenetrable armor of triple steel links worn by Charlemagne [A]

Hauteclere (Hauteclère, Hautclere, Altachiera) - Sword of Oliver, it has a nielloed gold hilt, forged by Wayland [F] [OF]

Helm of Charlemagne - Enchanted helm adorned with gemstones that makes the wearer invincibly protected from any blow, no matter how strong, the gemstones date back to the time of the biblical prophet Jeremiah [A]

Hippogriff - Half horse half griffin steed of Atlantes [OF]

Holy Shroud - Garment that the body of Jesus was wrapped in after his crucifixion [F]

Joyeuse (Gaudiosa, Ioyouse) - Sword of Charlemagne, forged by Wayland, the holy relics of Saint Denis and Saint Honoré are enclosed within the gold hilt, the sword provides protection against iron and poison [A] [F] [OF] [OTD]

Lance of Longinus (Spear of Longinus) - Holy relic, spear that pierced the side of Jesus on the cross [A] [F]

Logistilla's Horn [OF] [OI]

Magic Ring - Worn on the finger, it dispels magic, placed in the mouth, it renders one invisible [OF]

Marmorie - Horse of the Saracen Grandoyne [OF]

Matefélon - Horse of Girard of Fraite [A]

Merlin's Tomb - Location where Bradamante first meets Melissa [OF]

Montjoie - Battle cry of Charlemagne and his knights [A] [F]

Morel - Horse of Duke Naimon, Roland rides it into battle against Aumont [A]

Murgleys - Sword of Ganelon [OF]

Nails of the Crucifixion - Nails with which Jesus was nailed to the cross [F]

Narcissus’ Fount [OI]

Olifant - Horn of Roland, won in his victory over Aumont, the sound of it can be heard many miles away, at Roncevaux Pass Roland blows it too late to recall the French army, the term is also used for any ivory hunting horn [A] [F] [HCG] [OF]

Oriflamme - Battle flag of the kingdom of France [A] [LRF] [OTD]

Passecerf - Horse of Gerier [OF]

Pavilion of Aumont - Magical tent which Charlemagne gains by the death of Aumont, it is large enough to accomodate a thousand knights, pavilion with a golden orb, golden eagle, and carbuncle atop the center pole, the carbuncle shines at the top of the tent pole and at night it illuminates the land for a hundred leagues in all directions, the carbuncle also reflects distant images during the day like a magnifying mirror [A] [F]

Precieuse - Sword of the Saracen king Baligant [OF]

Rabicano - Horse of Rogero, he won it by killing Argalia [OF] [OI]

Saint Volto - Ancient wooden carving of Christ crucified and wearing a robe that was sculpted by Nicodemus who assisted St. Joseph of Arimathea in placing Christ in his tomb after the crucifixion [OTD]

Salamcadis - Idol of Mohamet located in Cádiz, it was made by Mohamet himself, a legion of devils imbued it with magic that makes it unbreakable, it kills birds that land on it [HCG]

Sautperdu - Horse of the Saracen Malquiant [OF]

Sauvagine (Musaguine) - Sword of Huon of Bordeaux, forged by Murificans [F]

Shield of Atlantes - Magic shield, the sight of it causes paralysis [OF]

Sign of the Crucifixion - Sign that was nailed to the cross above Jesus' head, it bears the inscription INRI, Latin for Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, which in English translates to "Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews" [F]

Sisifalto - Horse of Agramante [OF] [OI]

Sorel - Horse of Gerin [OF]

Standard of Aumont - The spire of this standard is made of gold and at its top has been stuck an idol of Mahomet who shouts by sorcery and enchantment [A]

Statue of Cádiz - Golden statue of a man holding a key and standing atop a tapered stone pillar, it is located in Cádiz, there is a prophecy that when the statue drops the key he is holding, it will signal the end of Saracen rule in Spain [HCG]

Tassabron (Tachebrun) - Horse of Ganelon [F] [OF]

Tranchera - Sword of Agrican

True Cross (Holy Cross) - Cross on which Jesus was crucified, the shrine of Saint James is endowed with wood from this cross [A] [HCG]

Veillantif (Valentin, Vegliantino, Brigliadoro) - Horse won by Roland in his victory over Aumont [A] [F] [GB] [KS] [O] [OF] [OI] [PC] [SR] [WC]


SOURCES


[A] : Aspremont
[F] : Fierabras
[FSA] : Four Sons of Aymon
[GB] : Gui de Bourgogne
[HCG] : History of Charles the Great and Orlando
[LRF] : Li Reali di Francia
[KS] : Karlamagnus Saga
[O] : Otinel
[OF] : Orlando Furioso
[OI] : Orlando Innamorato
[OTD] : Ogier the Dane
[PC] : Pilgrimage of Charlemagne
[SR] : Song of Roland
[WC] : Weihenstephan Chronicle


REFERENCES

Aspremont - French

Aspremont, Louis Brandin, 1925


Chevalerie Ogier de Danemarche (Knighthood of Ogier the Dane) - French

La Chevalier Ogier de Danamarche, Raimbert de Paris, 1812


Doon de Maience (Doon of Mayence) - French

Les Anciens Poètes De La France Volume 2: Doon de Maience, François Guessard, 1859


Enfances Ogier (Childhood of Ogier the Dane) - French

Les Enfances Ogier, Adenet le Roi, 1874


Fierabras - French

Fierabras, Mary Lafon, 1857


Four Sons of Aymon - English

Foure Sonnes of Aymon, Early English Text Society, 1885


Gaufrey (Godfrey) - French

Les Anciens Poètes De La France Volume 3: Gaufrey, François Guessard, 1859


Girart de Vienne (Gerard of Vienne) - English

Girart de Vienne, Bertrand de Bar-Sur-Aube, translated by Michael A. Newth, 1999


Gui de Bourgogne (Guy of Burgundy) - French

Les Anciens Poètes De La France Volume 1: Gui de Bourgogne - Otinel - Floovant, François Guessard, 1858


History of Charles the Great and Orlando (Archbishop Turpin's Chronicle) - English

History of Charles the Great and Orlando, Thomas Rodd, 1812


Morgante: Cantos 1-13 - Italian

Morgante, Luigi Pulci, 1914


Morgante: Cantos 14-21 - Italian

Morgante, Luigi Pulci, 1914


Orlando Innamorato - English

Orlando Innamorato, Matteo Boiardo and Francesco Berni, translated by William Stewart Rose, 1823


Pélerinage De Charlemagne (Pilgrimage of Charlemagne) - French

Le Pélerinage De Charlemagne, Anna Cooper, 1925


Reali di Francia (Royalty of France) - Italian

Li Reali di Francia, Andrea da Barberino, 1821