THE LINEAGE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY OF FRANCE AND OF NARBONNE DESCENDED FROM THE BLOOD OF CHIARAMONTE AND MONGRANA
(LA SCHIATTA DE REALI DI FRANCIA E DE NERBONESI DISCESI DEL SANGUE DI CHIARAMONTE E DI MONGRANA)
by Michelagnolo di Cristofano da Volterra, last quarter of the 15th century
from Chivalric Songs of the 15th and 16th Centuries
collected and published By Giorgio Barini, 1905
Modern English Translation by Nol Drek
The Lineage of the Royalty of France and of Narbonne, Descended from the blood of Chiaramonte and Mongrana
1 Human flesh of the pious Virgin, taken to redeem us, and son of Holy
Mary, she who lived without ever sinning, being taken by the wicked
people you chose to shed your blood on the cross and with great pain you
chose to die, only to save us from the cruel martyrdom.
2 Therefore I turn to you, supreme Lord, who does not care that I am
unworthy to ask, although I am a vile sinner, that you sharpen my great
intellect so much that I can continue with honor a history that I have
planned without committing any evil in it. It will be called the History
of the Royalty.
3 From Constantine to Charlemagne, all the lineages that descended from
him will follow without further difficulty. I will make their names
clear to you, that each of them was not stubborn in going against the
infidels and in undertaking enterprises. From Constantine we will begin,
and we will count his descendants.
4 Constantine was Greek by nature and his grandfather worked the land,
but he then became on such a high ground that in his days he waged much
war and, according to the writing, he was Emperor, and the saying does
not err. And Constantine was once a pagan, then Saint Sylvester made him
a Christian.
5 From him descended the paladin Fiovo who, with his great power,
acquired all of France and put it under his dominion, and even La Magna
with arrogance. He was king of France by such destiny and emperor of
Rome by such circumstance. Otto and Grifroi his blood cousins were in
his retinue, those royal lords.
6 And in the wars that the baron fought, he took Brandonia, who was once
a Saracen, as his wife. This beautiful specimen, who was the daughter of
a king and a queen. Constantine the first, noble person, had a brother
who was Latin, of which my verses will clearly tell. The descendants of
this man are the Mayencians.
7 Fiovo had two sons and free children, one was called Fior, the other
Fiorello. And they were fresher than roses or lilies. Fiorello reigned,
the handsome young man, and from his brother Fior two sons remained,
each one impestuous. The first is Lionello, a strong champion, and the
second is called Lione.
8 The sons of the free and strong Fior died without heirs in this world.
Fiorello his brother was made King of France and good emperor, and was a
very worthy and cheerful man. In his person, he had much valor. He did
great deeds in his youth and was named King Fiorello.
9 And from the aforementioned emperor Fiorello, who held his court in
Paris, the renowned Fioravante descended, one who was as strong as
Hector the Trojan. In his youth Fioravante defeated many pagans who he
put to death and remained away some time, held as a prisoner. Then he
returned and was made emperor,
10 as his history declares, precisely when he escaped with Drusolina,
daughter of the arrogant King Balante, and her face was refined with
beauty. Fioravante, king of supreme glory, had two sons who survived.
One was called Gisberto of the fierce visage, and the other Octavian
of the great courage.
11 Gisberto is called "of the fierce visage". He was king of France and
Roman emperor. In his life he had great fame, he was wise, strong, and
of sovereign spirit. And it is said that Michael Angelo descended from
Gisbert and he was human, and from the emperor King Angelo, the frank
and great King Pepin was descended.
12 From King Pepin descended three sons, two were bastards and the third
was legitimate. The bastards were called by the crowds Lanfroi and
Olderigi the murderous one, who killed Pipin in such a flight, as the
history in the Reale says. King Pepin from his legitimate wife had a son
who was a strong pillar
13 of the whole world, and for his goodness and for the help of his
paladins he greatly increased Christianity. That son was Charlemagne who
reached throughout the world and his lands, and was feared by all, far
and near. Of the said Charlemagne, he was survived by a son called
Dionysus.
14 He was king and held the supreme empire as his other ancestorshad
done, and he waged many wars for this purpose against many renegade
Saracen dogs. He also increased the church of San Peter, thanks to the
goodness of the Narbonnais who were so highly esteemed, especially for
that free knight whose nickname was Lancimieri.
15 From this good Dionysus descended Charles Martel who was so bestial.
He was a friend of the Mayencian bloodline, he was king, but he governed
the empire badly, because those from Pontier committed many offenses,
especially to Count Ugon, natural lord. But as the truth declares and
discerns, the devil took him alive to hell.
16 Then the Royals of France were extinguished and the French lost the
empire, because for them it was sad and bad fortune, because Charles
Martel had little sense. Let us return without further discussion to to
the other descendants of our lord and what they did. I say the other son
of Fioravante, who was in arms so proud and aggressive,
17 was named Ottavïano of the Lion, brother of that proud Gisbert that
we have recounted above. It is said that Ottavïano was very experienced
and was severely tested and certainly conquered many kingdoms in the
Levant. With Argulia, his wife, he had a beautiful son that resembled
the Greek Hercules in every way.
18 He was called Bovetto by all, and was like another Hector the Trojan
in the saddle. He had a son who was so perfect that he was called in
every city and castle Guidon of Antona, chosen from among the others,
who was such a beautiful person. From this one was born a son of
adornment, who resembled Hercules in his strength,
19 who was known throughout the world for so many of his deeds. He was
called Buovo the jolly knight, who held many kingdoms in his power. One
could search everywhere, all of the earth and in every forest, and find
that he was the most powerful, above all the others, and was valiant.
20 The great Buovo of Antona had two sons, and they were born as twins
by Drusïana, his book tells us, when Pulicane was killed by lions and
died in the field. One was called Guido, a noble person, and the other
Sinibaldo, an esteemed lord. Then the paladin Buovo changed his name and
his helmet, and his third son was called by the name William.
21 This William was king of England and he had two sons who were very
proud. The first is Duke Busone, make no mistake, and the other was
Bernardo of Mongieri. These were feared in every war and everyone
willingly honored them, especially the frank and good Duke Busone, who
in arms was another Samson.
22 From that other son of King William, who was called Bernardo of
Mongieri, six sons with fierce hands were born. Each of them was perfect
in arms, wise in sense, and of much counsel in many things, each one
chosen, and two esteemed bastards Bernardo of Mongieri also had in his
state.
23 His first son was Duke Amone, the second was Buovo of Agrismonte, the
third was Girardo of Rossiglione, the fourth was Pope Leo who was very
ready, the fifth was King Otto of England, the sixth was Milo who was a
noble count. One of the bastards was called Anseigi and the other was
named Eulfroi.
24 From Duke Amon was born the frank Alardo and that Rinaldo who was so
strong that he never gave any consideration to Christians, to pagans he
gave death. His third son was Riccardo and the fourth was Ricciardetto
who had such a destiny. Rinaldo then had two sons from his wife and
three other natural sons.
25 The first legitimate son was called Iavon the strong, and the second
Amonetto. Of the natural sons, the first was called Guidon Selvaggio who
was so perfect, the second was called Dondello who all said was very
worthy, and the third was called Isfortunat who was the son of fortune.
26 From Buovo of Agrismonte, Malagigi was born, who was a great
necromancer, and Viviano of the ready forces who was very active in
deeds of arms. From Otto of England on this front was born Astolfo who
was a beautiful lover, and from Astolfo was born Otto of Altieri who was
a frank and noble knight,
27 but he was not legitimate, telling the truth, but he was a mighty
frank paladin. And from the knight Milon of Angrante, Orlando was born,
who was so good that he governed the church of San Peter. He was feared
by every Saracen and was a marquis, count, senator, and captain of
Emperor Charles.
28 These were the deeds of Chiaramonte. Now I will tell the deeds of
Mongrana, of the Narbonnais and their power that greatly made the pagan
faith fail. This begins with Ansuigi, who never did a vain deed, and
Ansuigi is called the strong and he was the son of Gerardo of
Rossiglione.
29 From the said Ansuigi was born Ugolino who was surnamed Valfiera and
from him was born the frank Busolino who was brave and strong in every
rank, of Busolin were born Ramondo first and then Rinier of the Lione at
that river. And from Ramondo was born a great warrior Ramondino who was
called the knight.
30 From Sinibaldo, the second surviving son of Buovo of Antona, Guerrino
was born who was strong in every army. And Guerrino had four sons. It is
said the first son was Gerard who flew so high that he was the lord of
Burgundy. And the second son was called Bernardo, Milone was third, and
then the esteemed Guerrino.
31 He was called Guerrino because his father had died before he was
born. From Gerard of Fratta it came to pass that Rinieri of Vienne was
born, Arnoldo of Berlanda who became a very shrewd man, Guiscardo of
Puglia to such pressures, and Milon who was father of Meschino who was
also called the great Guerrino.
32 And from Bernardo, the son of Guerrin the Strong, was born Amerigo
lord of Narbonne who in his life gave death to many, and it is said that
he had six sons. The first was Bernardo whose fate was to wear the crown
of Busbante, then Buovo of Cormansis was the second, third was the
joyful Guerrin of Sidonia,
33 the fourth was Namier the King of Spain, William of Orange was the
fifth, and from the furnace Gibellin Lamagna was the sixth and he never
saw himself defeated. Bernardo begat the flawless Beltramo the Timonier
a young leader who carried Mars into battle and because of him all the
pagan world trembled.
34 From Buovo of Cormansis Guidone and Guicciardo were born, from Guidon
was born the poor Avveduto. From Arnaldo the third, who was so brave,
was born Guidolino who was so knowledgeable, and Viviano was born in
this regard with a fierce complexion and he was an astute man. From
Guerrin was born Vivian of Argento and Guiscardo who was proud and so
attentive.
35 From the fourth son, called Namieri, were born two mighty sons. The
first was called the frank Gualtieri who was so feared by all people and
the second was called Berlingieri who in his days has extinguished many
pagans. And the brave William had no sons, and in the end he became a
saint.
36 But he endured so many trials in his youth that he equalled the
strength of Count Orlando, governor of the Christians, who was always
defending them with his sword. From Gibellin, that man of virtue, ten
sons remained. I count Namerigetto first, then Milone, Atornante, and
Ferino the baron.
37 The fifth was Rinieri, Ugonetto was sixth, and the others were
Dionigi, Alorino, Parigino, and Arnaldo the rogue. These were the sons
of Gibellino. And of Milone who was so rough, the son of that nobleman
Guerrino, he had a son and so he called him Guerrino, because of his
father.
38 He was called Guerrino the German, and from him descended Don Buoso
and Don Chiaro, who in Aspramonte gave so much trouble and bitter grief
to the people of King Agolante. And of Guerrino the fourth, without
deceit, was born Ugo of Avernia, that dear one who was very powerful
and, through fidelity to that rule, he went alive to hell.
39 These are the deeds of those of Mongrana together with the deeds of
the Narbonnais, who were each a fountain of virtue and each defended
themselves very well. Now I will continue with human grace to speak of
the Royalty of Britain who did such deeds. King Arthur was the first of
that race to be named to reign in Brittany.
40 And after him, Bertonante reighed and from him was born Godanis the
mighty. From Godanis was born Angiolier the helpful, and from Angiolier
was born Salamïer the valiant. From him descended Godanas the lover who
was so pleasing above all others. And from him was born that noble
Salardo who was fierce and valiant in arms,
41 from whom descended Eripes the fierce who always kept his kingdom in
peace. He had a son, brave and very cruel, Anserigi, called to such
desires, who held back the good with his voice and chased away the
wicked with great hunger. This one had two sons, learned and good, who
in arms appeared like two lions.
42 The first was called King Salamon who was faithful to Charlemagne for
all of his life. The second was called Eripes, who became the father of
such a part. Salamon had a son who was an esteemed lord that was called
Lion, the welcomed sword, but because of his use of the bow this Lion
was then called by many Chiron.
43 The second Eripes had a son who was called King Ansuigi and he was
very fierce in every army. I found that he was king of Spain. Ansuigi
had two sons who flew to such heights. The first one was called Ioans
and the second Guidone, was a bastard, he was called Terigi and was very
strong.
44 These are the deeds of the king of Brittany which I have narrated to
you in this place. Now I will tell you with great voice of the House of
San Simone on this side, of Tibaldo of Lima his companion, who was a
child of the esteemed King Fiore, that of Dardona brother of Fiorello,
of whom Ughetto was born who was so beautiful.
45 From Ughetto was born that good Sinibaldo who was the bailiff of
Buovo the paladin, and from him was born that firm Terigi who was a
great lord to such a destiny, from him descended Sicurans the fierce who
held Hugary in great confinement. From him was born Philip, the powerful
king who was much feared by the people.
46 Ughetto and Manabello from him were born who were very strong on the
saddle and did many things on land and in the sea. They were of strength
equal to two lions. Philip had a son, as it pleased God, called King
Philip of the Barons, that is King Philip the second, father to the
beautiful Berta who was the wife of Charles, as the story goes.
47 I say this Berta was that of the great foot who was deceived by
Falisetta. From Ughetto was born Terigi who was king of Dardona and was
of perfect virtue, Morando of Riviera who had faith and was the bailiff
of Charles and was his righteousness, and also Gualfré of Mongioia was
born from Mompolier Bernardo without annoyance.
48 These are the Royalty of San Simone that I have told you, my
beautiful company. Each of them was a strong baron. Now I will tell you
agian the deeds of Conturbia, which caused you so much trouble, and of
Maganza that fell so far that Ganelon descended from them, that traitor
who in Roncevaux made such an error.
49 The first was Gilfroi of Santerna who began the lineage in Conturbia
and led a very good and modern life. He also did great deeds in the
lands of the Saracens and was with Fiovo always in such a position when
he acquired his great lordship. He did great deeds, as I find written in
La Magna together with the great Fiovo.
50 From Gilfroì was born the noble Terigi, and of Terigi was born the
great Riccardo of Conturbia who held everyone in contempt, every pagan
seemed a coward to him. From Riccardo was bron the virile Minon who also
was brave in battle. From Minon was born the frank Riccardotto of the
Plane of Saint Michele with such a motto.
51 Now begins the deeds of Maganza. Constanzo, the father of
Constantino, certainly had another son who was a count and was called
Lucino. This one started to be disloyal and from him was born Sanguino.
And from Sanguino were born two sons, Maganza was the first among his
people.
52 The second was called Sanguino and from him descended the cruel
Aldonagi and from him was born the desperate Rinier who always had in
his body such bitter gall. From Rinier was born Dodo at such a price
that he was faithful to every traitor and was that lord Dodo of Maganza
who caused the death of the father of Buovo,
53 and at the time was well paid and with justice. From Dodo was born
then a son who was called the false Gailone and was a great traitor
among the army, and this coward had six sons who continued to betray the
race. If one was sad, and the other sorrowful, one was strange, and the
other was reluctant.
54 Richard the first named was from Norgalïa and he betrayed his master.
Guglielmo Provenzal without virtue was the second and he deserved the
noose. Ptolemy was the third, who always went down the path of betrayal
much more roughly. The fourth was Grifone of Pontiero, the father of
Ganelon the merciless traitor.
55 The fifth was Ghinamo of Baiona who was never satiated with betrayal.
This one truly wore a crown, but he caused much more torment to be done.
Spinardo the sixth who at vespers, at nones, and at every other hour
looked for some time to be able to commit some great betrayal, because
he always had a hundred in his heart.
56 And from Grifone was born that Ganelon who was truly the king of
betrayal, who did so much treason against Charlemagne that no human
tongue could say it all. He had a gentle hand in betrayals and with
these he caused many people to die, especially in so much suffering at
Roncevaux when there was the cruel and great battle.
57 And so many more betrayals were born of them that it would be a great
bore to describe them all, but that those six sons of Gailon, full of
troubles, had more than sixty at the council, gave birth to many other
blunders, were proven traitors, and all of them were likened to Judas.
58 Like the people of Chioggia, who are said to be all of one skin, so
these from head to root, without betraying, were all broken down. In
each book, the fame of their many betrayals flies like a partridge. If
it had been possible, they would have betrayed the Lord of heaven with
such zeal.
59 If one was sad, and the other was sorrowful, if one was a thief, and
the other was a murderer, they were so well liked by their people that
every neighbor was their enemy. But that paladin Rinaldo, strong and
powerful, punished many of them for the wars they waged in the country.
This is the lineage of the Maganzesi.
60 If you want to discover the deeds of the Royalty, of those of France
and of other paladins, the great deeds that they did and the deaths they
caused of those far and near, go read the books of the emperor that I
will tell you in such a way, and you will discover all the deeds and all
the great state of those of whom I have told you.
61 First, go read I Reali di Francia which is a beautiful book
certainly, then read the Aspramonte which moves so quickly and where you
will see many people dying, then read the substantial Montelion which
will please you in its running, and read Fioravante, a beautiful book,
and also Fierabras and Lionello.
62 These are books of great pleasure because they were all the truth.
Read the Danese if you want to see great deeds done with much piety, and
read Mirabel full of power that will seem to you a story of great
goodness, and read the book called Rinaldo, you will be amazed and stay
steady.
63 And another beautiful book is Il Re Pipino although everything is in
the Reali which begins first with Constantine. Of Carlo l'Innamoramento,
which will give you great pleasure by divine God, and that of Orlando
also which is very valuable because it is a book of pleasure and will
show you many great deeds.
64 Read the book of that Queen called Ancroia, mother of Guidone
Selvaggio, who had such strength and went so far that she conquered all
the paladins on horseback except Orlando, by divine virtue, and Rinaldo
son of the Duke Amone. And read the Nerbonese and of their skirmishes
because you will find cruel and great battles
65 that William, Count Lancimieri, did with that lord Tibaldo, King of
Arabia, who killed so many knights there that it is impossible even to
say how many. There is also Altobello to such a trade that it deals with
Troy of the great daring, where the battles of the pagans, those mastiff
dogs, were fought at the fortress.
66 And here is a book called Cardovino, who did many things in this
world, who was a frank and noble paladin and in his days never sought a
truce or to make a pact. Go read also that strong Aiolfo, who was the
son of that great duke, for such deeds that the above name of this baron
was called Aiolfo from the Barbicone.
67 Read Morgante, which is a beautiful song, that deals with impossible
and great things. There is also the book that calls itself the
Fortunato. It is said in all parts, that Persia had to be acquired by
force. He had the garlands of that country that he had conquered brought
to Chritian lands, and he sent many kings to Charles as prisoners.
68 But if you read it you will have great pleasure. There is also the
Tavola Ritonda that deals with King Arthur that great perfect lord, with
Tristan whose fame abounds, and with that Lancelot whose fame in fact
resounds everywhere today. Here you see knights adorned in armor, in war
they were so highly prized.
69 There is also a book called Alfeo del Baston that in this world
acquired such great fame and in the saddle he was strong and valiant.
There is also another book that has a beautiful plot called Malignetto
by the people, who did great deeds that left so many vestiges and was
the son of that great Malagigi.
70 There is also Ciriffo Calvaneo, Ciriffo who wandered through many
different countries and traveled to the world of the gods. This is a
beautiful book with ornate verses. There is another that is not bad, it
deals with the battles of the Turks and the Persians, it is called
Trabisonda, and is beautifully written. Here you see a great lord dying.
71 In this book Rinaldo, who was lord of Montalbano, made himself
emperor. Rinaldo the famous sovereign sent an embassy of twenty-two
kings to Charles. Also Buovo d'Antona, a book of honor, with his
companion called Pulicano, whose father was killed and then he took
revenge for him, but not very quickly.
72 Another book is called Spagna, which tells of the destruction of the
paladins. Of Roncevaux everyone still complains, because Christians and
Saracens died there, the valley was all soaked in blood, never again did
grain grow in those borders, the grass was never green again, because
Charles put a curse on that valley.
73 If you like to hear about great battles, read that book called
Troiano. There you will hear the terrible travails of Hector with the
Greeks on that plain, because he cut plates and mail from their bodies
with his brother King Troilus, and also Achilles, Hector's enemy, did so
many wonders that I cannot tell all of them.
74 Go read the Battles of King Aeneas which he fought against proud
Turnus, and the defeat, and that great battle that he gave him then at
the end of the story. He left Dido, who committed suicide out of love
for him (the case is bitter), because he went away in secret from the
city of Carthage.
75 And read about the Romans, and you will find the things they did with
fidelity and you will understand the deeds they did to maintain their
city, because I believe it is clear that there will never be people who
had greater charity than that great Roman people had, each one valiant
for the republic.
76 And read Filomenes Indiano and you will hear the battles he fought,
who was a pagan and became a Christian, and he destroyed many in his
life. Read about Meschino who was a sovereign, later called Guerrino in
that role, who searched the universe to find the one who gave birth to
him in the world.
77 If you delight in hearing about love, read that book that I told you
about, first of all wanting to hear about Filostrato, that is about that
baron who had such great courage, Troilus the handsome, that noble
champion. You will find him and the beautiful Griseida, who was always
called miserable girl.
78 Here are four other books of battles which I had not yet recorded,
where one reads about many hardships and many losing their great state,
and many armed with plates and mail and then being tested by his enemy.
The first book is called Nerbone who had the heart of a lion,
79 he descended from the blood of the Narbonnais and was the son of the
frank Viviano, with the fierce complexion in the open, and was once with
the pagan Tibaldo, but also descended from the Nerbonese. And the second
is called Dodonel, and has the name Il Tempesta. He was the son of
Rinaldo and of his deeds.
80 This is a beautiful book and a fine story. The third is called Il
Grande Arguto, son of the good Danese who does not fail, who never
refused to fight and was a man of supreme daring, as his story has
shown. The fourth book then to this group has been surnamed the
Tapinello.
81 As I told you before, if you delight in love, there are many books,
and especially Petrarch who writes sonnets about the heart, and you will
never see better and the most beautiful and most honorable ones you will
see there precisely if you read them. And running through the truth of
my boat, is one called the Triumphs of Petrarch.
82 I could tell you about a hundred books of love that deal with a
similar profession but I will not continue with this wind because my
words have come to an end. Every man of you has been attentive to listen
and from me you have certainly understood the truth, of this story I
have told you in detail. God of heaven be forever praised for it.
83 Whoever delights in ancient stories should hold dear to hear this
one, among the others that all men are free and full of courage those
here suffered the bitter punishment of many Saracens, not to lie,
because in their days they killed a thousand thousand, especially the
descendants of Constantine, because each of them was in arms until the
end.
84 If you read all the books that I have told you, you will have great
pleasure in the great and esteemed knights who in the world had such
great power over their destriers and, armed with great strength, made
themselves known throughout the universe. I thank you, O high God of
glory, that I have come to the end of the story.
REFERENCES
