CHAPTER IV
OTHER MATERIAL FROM THE CHRONICA UTILIZED BY MARTORELL
But there are other features in this part of Tirant lo Blanch that reveal the influence of that portion of the Chronica which treats of Roger de Flor and his expedition. In recounting the career of the latter we have noted that the first fight in which his forces were engaged was against the Genoese, who were in the service of the emperor. This incident is reflected in the following words spoken by the emperor and addressed to Tirant:[47] “... perqueus prech, Capita virtuos, queus vullau dispondre en anar contra los enemichs nostres los genouesos, generacio mala....”
[47] Therefore I pray you, excellent Captain, to make ready to march against our enemies, the Genoese, an evil race.... Tirant lo Blanch, chap. cxxii, col. 2.
The incompetent, envious and treacherous commander, Xor Miqueli, is probably the prototype of the sullen and malicious Duke of Macedonia.
En Berenguer de Rocafort and En Berenguer Dentença came with reinforcements to Constantinople and joined Roger’s army; the Prior of Saint John, the Viscount of Branches, and the Duke of Messina came with many men to join Tirant’s forces.
At a session of the Imperial Council which had convened to consider certain military matters, one of the members proposed:
[48] ... antes que partixquen de açi la gent darmes deuen anar en romiatge, e fer grans presentalles als deus en la ylla don Paris sen porta la Reyna Elena: e perço hagueren en temps antich los Grechs victoria dels Troyans.
[48] ... before they leave here, the men at arms ought to make a pilgrimage and make great offerings to the gods on the island whence Paris carried away Queen Helen: it was in this way that, in ancient times, the Greeks won a victory over the Trojans. Tirant lo Blanch, chap. cxxiii, col. 4.
This proposal is surprising. Why should such a suggestion be made in a Christian court? We find the answer in the following passage taken from the Chronica:
[49] E en aquella illa del Tenedo en aquell temps hauia una ydola, e venien hi un mes del any tots los honrrats homens de Romania, e les honrrades dones a romeria. E axi fo, que en aquell temps Arena, muller del duch de Tenes, hi vench en romeria ab C cauallers qui lacompanyaren, e Paris, fill del rey Priam de Troya, axi mateix era vengut a romeria, e hauia ab si entro cinquanta cauallers. E vae la dona Arena, e altas tant della, que dix a sos homens, que mester era, que lagues e la sen menas. E axi com so mes en cor, axi fo: que garnis ab tota sa companya, e pres la dona, e volch sen menar. E aquells cauallers qui eren ab ella volgren la li defendre, e finalment tots cent muriren, e Paris menassan la dona.