Otinel

Summary

Otinel, composed in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century, is the earliest of the three poems included in this volume. It takes place in a sort of interval during Charles's expeditions into Spain, between the conquest of Pamplona and the disaster at Roncevaux, during which he has returned temporarily to Paris. The poem opens with the arrival of a messenger at Charlemagne's court, bearing a challenge from the Emir Garsile who, during this same interval, had ventured into Lombardy, capturing several cities and setting up headquarters in Atilie. We soon learn that the messenger, Otinel, is a nephew of the giant Fernagu, who was slain by Roland during one of Charlemagne's earlier expeditions. This episode is recounted in the Pseudo-Turpin Chronicle, so-called because the author claimed to be the Archbishop Turpin who fought alongside Charlemagne and the twelve peers in the Song of Roland.3 The Chronicle tells of four fictitious campaigns by the emperor into Spain against the Muslims in the years preceding Roncevaux. In the fourth and final of these campaigns, Roland succeeds in killing the giant Fernagu after a threeday battle.

When Otinel arrives in Paris, he insolently challenges Charlemagne on behalf of Garsile to convert to Islam or lose his lands. An impetuous French knight attacks him and is quickly beheaded by Otinel. He next challenges Roland to single combat to avenge the death of Fernagu, his uncle. In preparing for combat, Otinel is presented his arms and armor by Charlemagne's beautiful daughter, Belissent. The fight between the two champions of their respective religions is going badly for Roland until the Christian God intervenes and sends the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove to Otinel, who has a miraculous change of heart and converts to Christianity. He is baptized in the cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, made a peer, offered Charlemagne's daughter Belissent to be his wife, and promised Lombardy as dowry. Our poem then presents a new foreign excursion by the French troops, this time into Lombardy, where the Emir Garsile, having sacked Rome, is ensconced in his fortified city of Atilie.