During the siege of Seville, Garci Pérez de Vargas became the protagonist of one of the most memorable stories associated with the warriors of Ferdinand III: an encounter with seven enemy knights and a return into danger for something that, to everyone else, seemed almost worthless.
THE LEGEND
During the siege of Seville by the army of Ferdinand III, Garci Pérez de Vargas was riding along a road accompanied by another Christian knight.
They were alone when seven Muslim horsemen appeared ahead of them, advancing directly towards their position.
Seeing that they were greatly outnumbered, Garci Pérez's companion suggested that they should avoid the encounter.
But Garci Pérez refused.
According to the old romance, he replied that fleeing was not the behaviour expected of good men and that, if his companion followed him, together they could break through the seven horsemen.
His companion did not share his confidence. He turned his horse and departed, leaving Garci Pérez alone.
The knight then called for the weapons carried by his squire and continued forward.
From a nearby hill, King Ferdinand III and Don Lorenzo Gallinato could see what was happening.
Don Lorenzo pointed towards the solitary horseman and told the king that, if the enemy allowed him to approach, they were about to witness the actions of an exceptional warrior.
Garci Pérez continued towards the seven horsemen without showing fear.
He passed through their midst and, according to the romance, once they recognised him by his arms, none of them dared to confront him.
The knight continued on his way.
But shortly afterwards he realised that something was missing.
He had lost the coif that he wore beneath his helmet.
Garci Pérez immediately decided to turn back and search for it.
His frightened squire begged him not to do so. The coif was worth very little compared with the danger of returning towards seven armed enemies.
But for Garci Pérez its value was not measured in money.
The coif had been embroidered for him by the woman he loved.
And so, despite his squire's pleas, he turned his horse and rode back along the same road.
Once again he reached the seven Muslim horsemen.
Once again, according to the romance, they recognised him.
And once again, none of them attempted to stop him.
Garci Pérez reached the place where he had put on his helmet, recovered the precious coif and calmly returned with it.
Ferdinand III had witnessed the scene from the hill.
Astonished by what he had seen, the king turned to Don Lorenzo and exclaimed:
“Oh God, what a good knight!”
Thus the memory of Garci Pérez de Vargas preserved not only the image of a fearless warrior, but also that of a medieval knight prepared to risk himself for an object whose true value lay in the person who had made it for him.
They were alone when seven Muslim horsemen appeared ahead of them, advancing directly towards their position.
Seeing that they were greatly outnumbered, Garci Pérez's companion suggested that they should avoid the encounter.
But Garci Pérez refused.
According to the old romance, he replied that fleeing was not the behaviour expected of good men and that, if his companion followed him, together they could break through the seven horsemen.
His companion did not share his confidence. He turned his horse and departed, leaving Garci Pérez alone.
The knight then called for the weapons carried by his squire and continued forward.
From a nearby hill, King Ferdinand III and Don Lorenzo Gallinato could see what was happening.
Don Lorenzo pointed towards the solitary horseman and told the king that, if the enemy allowed him to approach, they were about to witness the actions of an exceptional warrior.
Garci Pérez continued towards the seven horsemen without showing fear.
He passed through their midst and, according to the romance, once they recognised him by his arms, none of them dared to confront him.
The knight continued on his way.
But shortly afterwards he realised that something was missing.
He had lost the coif that he wore beneath his helmet.
Garci Pérez immediately decided to turn back and search for it.
His frightened squire begged him not to do so. The coif was worth very little compared with the danger of returning towards seven armed enemies.
But for Garci Pérez its value was not measured in money.
The coif had been embroidered for him by the woman he loved.
And so, despite his squire's pleas, he turned his horse and rode back along the same road.
Once again he reached the seven Muslim horsemen.
Once again, according to the romance, they recognised him.
And once again, none of them attempted to stop him.
Garci Pérez reached the place where he had put on his helmet, recovered the precious coif and calmly returned with it.
Ferdinand III had witnessed the scene from the hill.
Astonished by what he had seen, the king turned to Don Lorenzo and exclaimed:
“Oh God, what a good knight!”
Thus the memory of Garci Pérez de Vargas preserved not only the image of a fearless warrior, but also that of a medieval knight prepared to risk himself for an object whose true value lay in the person who had made it for him.
THE MEDIEVAL ROMANCE
The traditional story was preserved in an old romance associated with the manuscripts of the Repartimiento de Sevilla. Its verses recount the encounter with the seven horsemen, the retreat of Garci Pérez's companion, the lost coif and the admiration of Ferdinand III.
Among its most memorable lines are the words traditionally attributed to Garci Pérez when his squire tries to persuade him not to return:
“Wait here and do not worry,
for this coif is of great value;
it was embroidered by my beloved:
I shall not lose it if I can.”
And the romance ends with the admiration of the king:
“Oh God, what a good knight!”
Among its most memorable lines are the words traditionally attributed to Garci Pérez when his squire tries to persuade him not to return:
“Wait here and do not worry,
for this coif is of great value;
it was embroidered by my beloved:
I shall not lose it if I can.”
And the romance ends with the admiration of the king:
“Oh God, what a good knight!”
BETWEEN HISTORY AND LEGEND
Garci Pérez de Vargas was a historical knight associated with the campaigns of Ferdinand III and became one of the most celebrated warriors in the traditional memory of the conquest of Seville.
The story of the seven horsemen and the lost coif belongs to the old literary and historical tradition surrounding his exploits. A romance dedicated to this episode was preserved in connection with manuscripts of the Repartimiento de Sevilla, helping the story survive through the centuries.
Tradition has linked the romance very closely with the age of Ferdinand III and Alfonso X, and even the possibility of royal authorship has occasionally been suggested. Its precise authorship, however, remains uncertain.
What is beyond doubt is the importance that the story acquired in the memory of Garci Pérez de Vargas. The romance presents the ideal image of the medieval knight: courageous before his enemies, unwilling to retreat and faithful even to the personal token given to him by the woman he loved.
History and literary tradition therefore come together once again to preserve the memory of one of the great legendary figures associated with the conquest of Seville.
The story of the seven horsemen and the lost coif belongs to the old literary and historical tradition surrounding his exploits. A romance dedicated to this episode was preserved in connection with manuscripts of the Repartimiento de Sevilla, helping the story survive through the centuries.
Tradition has linked the romance very closely with the age of Ferdinand III and Alfonso X, and even the possibility of royal authorship has occasionally been suggested. Its precise authorship, however, remains uncertain.
What is beyond doubt is the importance that the story acquired in the memory of Garci Pérez de Vargas. The romance presents the ideal image of the medieval knight: courageous before his enemies, unwilling to retreat and faithful even to the personal token given to him by the woman he loved.
History and literary tradition therefore come together once again to preserve the memory of one of the great legendary figures associated with the conquest of Seville.
PODCAST VERSION
SOURCE AND ADAPTATION
Adapted for Sevilla Ciudad Mágica from the Sevillian tradition collected by José María de Mena in Tradiciones y Leyendas Sevillanas.
Seville is not only discovered through its monuments and streets.
Its legends are also part of its history and cultural memory.
Its legends are also part of its history and cultural memory.
| ← PREVIOUS | HOME | NEXT → |
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario