''Eurico, the Presbyter '' (Portuguese: ''Eurico, o Presbítero'') is an 1844 historical novel by

Alexandre Herculano Alexandre Herculano de Carvalho e Araújo (; 28 March 181013 September 1877) was a Portuguese novelist and historian. Early life Herculano's family had humble origins. One of his grandfathers was a foreman stonemason in the royal employ. Hercu ...

. It is about the ending days of the

Visigoth kingdom The Visigothic Kingdom, Visigothic Spain or Kingdom of the Goths () was a barbarian kingdom that occupied what is now southwestern France and the Iberian Peninsula from the 5th to the 8th centuries. One of the Germanic successor states to the W ...

that existed in the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...

, 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 The Visigoths (; ) were a Germanic people united under the rule of a king and living within the Roman Empire during late antiquity. The Visigoths first appeared in the Balkans, as a Roman-allied barbarian military group united under the comman ...

ruled Iberian Peninsula of the 8th century. Eurico and his friend Teodomiro fight aside the king of Hispania (Spain)

Wittiza Wittiza (''Witiza'', ''Witica'', ''Witicha'', ''Vitiza'', or ''Witiges''; 687 – probably 710) was the king of the Visigoths from 694 until his death, co-ruling with his father, Egica, until 702 or 703. Joint rule Early in his reign, Egica m ...

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 The Duchy of Cantabria was created by the Visigoths in northern Spain. Its precise extension is unclear in the different periods, but it seems likely that it included Cantabria, parts of Northern Castile, La Rioja, and probably western areas ...

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 was 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

Tariq Tariq () is an Arabic word and given name. Etymology The word is derived from the Arabic verb , ('), meaning "to strike", and into the agentive conjugated doer form , ('), meaning "striker". It became popular as a name after Tariq ibn Ziyad, ...

, leads him to assume the alias of the enigmatic Dark Knight. Under this guise, Eurico fights the islamic Moors and, through his valour, obtains the admiration of his own people, of the mountaineers and even of the Franks he had 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 Roderic (also spelled Ruderic, Roderik, Roderich, or Roderick; Spanish language, Spanish and , ; died 711) was the Visigoths, Visigothic king in Hispania between 710 and 711. He is well known as "the last king of the Goths". He is actually an ex ...

, king of the Visigoths, dies at the

Battle of Guadalete The Battle of Guadalete was the first major battle of the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, fought in 711 at an unidentified location in what is now southern Spain between the Visigoths under their king, Roderic, and the invading forces o ...

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 dishonour her. After rescuing her, he takes her back to the christian north, to

Asturias Asturias (; ; ) officially the Principality of Asturias, is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in northwest Spain. It is coextensive with the provinces of Spain, province of Asturias and contains some of the territory t ...

, where her brother, Pelágio, awaits. In a cave in

Covadonga Covadonga ( Asturian: ''Cuadonga'', from ''cova domnica'' "Cave of Our Lady") is one of 11 parishes in Cangas de Onís, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in Northwestern Spain. It is situated in the Picos de ...

, 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 Moors, the renegade Oppa, Bishop of Seville (or Toledo) and the enigmatic berber Count, Juliano of Ceuta.

References

External links

Eurico, o Presbítero - Mundo Cultural, por Antônio Carlos Pinho e Ronaldo Fazam

Eurico, o Presbítero, disponível no Projecto Adamastor

Eurico, o Presbítero - Domínio Público

Eurico, o Presbítero - Ler ''online''
1844 novels 19th-century Portuguese novels Historical novels Romantic novels Novels about Christian clergy Novels set in the 8th century {{1840s-hist-novel-stub

Plot

See also

References

External links