Aspremont (chanson de geste)

Chanson d'Aspremont (or simply Aspremont, or Agolant) is a 12th-century Old French chanson de geste (before 1190). The poem comprises 11, 376 verses (unusually long for a chanson de geste), grouped into rhymed laisses. The verses are decasyllables mixed with alexandrines.

The invading African Saracen forces under King Agolant and his son, Prince Aumon have overrun Calabria, Italy, and messages his intention to conquer Rome and the rest of Christendom. Charlemagne replies and defiance and they agree to battle at Aspremont, the "Bitter Mount" in Calabria.

The work deals mainly with the enfances (youthful exploits) of Roland, nephew of Charlemagne, namely his defeat of Prince Aumon and conquest of the sword Durendal, the horse Veillantif the olifant, and the subsequent dubbing as knight with the selfsame sword.

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