Eurico, the Presbyter

Eurico, the Presbyter (Portuguese: Eurico, o Presbítero) is a 1844 historical novel by Alexandre Herculano.[1] It is about the ending days of the Visigoth kingdom that existed in the Iberian Peninsula, as the Moors invaded it in the 8th century.

Plot

The plot tells of the love of Eurico and Hermengarda, and is set in the Visigoth ruled Iberian Peninsula of the 8th century. Eurico and his friend Teodomiro fight aside the king of Spain, Wittiza against rebel mountain people and their allies, the Franks. After winning the battle, Eurico goes to live in a village in the Duchy of Cantabria area, where he falls in love with Hermengarda during a Mass at the local church. Not knowing that she is from royalty, he proposes to her father, Fávila, who is none other than the Duke of Cantabria. He being little better than a knight, the Duke evidently denies his request.

Appalled, Eurico becomes a presbyter in Carteia, for alleviating his pain over Hermengarda through dedication to religious functions and by composing sacred hymns and poems.

An impending invasion by the Moors, led by Tarique, leads him to assume the alias of the enigmatic Dark Knight. As this new identity, Eurico fights the Arabs and, through his valour, gets the admiration of his own people and also of the mountaineers and of the Franks he defeated before, who ally with him against the new enemy.

When victory is at hand, Sisebuto and Ebas, sons of Witiza, betray their cause, intending to get the Spanish throne. Soon after, Roderic, king of the Visigoths, dies at the Battle of Guadalete and Teodomiro becomes the new leader. The Moors invade the abbey where Hermengarda is kept and kidnap her. The Dark Knight comes to the rescue as the emir was about to violate her. He takes her to the Asturias, where her brother Pelágio awaits.

In a cave in Covadonga, Hermengarda finds Eurico and declares her love for him. He knows this love is impossible because of his religious vows and reveals himself as the Dark Knight. Upon hearing this, Hermengarda becomes insane and Eurico, knowing his obligations, goes to a last stand against the Arabs and the renegade Bishop Ops and Count Juliano of Ceuta.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hertel, Patricia (2015-10-01). The Crescent Remembered: Islam and Nationalism on the Iberian Peninsula. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 9781782842354.
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