"The Very Brave and Invincible Knight Amadis of Gaul" by Garci Montalvo, summary Automatic translate

This book is a chivalric romance published in 1508. It became one of the most popular European texts of its time and a favorite reading for many conquistadors. The novel is part of a larger literary series. The story consists of the original three books, to which Montalvo added a fourth. The author later wrote a fifth book, recounting the exploits of the young hero Esplandián.

The mystery of birth and first exploits

King Perion secretly enters into a relationship with Princess Elisena. The newborn child is hidden from prying eyes. The boy is placed in a wooden chest along with a sword and a ring sealed in wax. The chest is thrown into the sea. The Scottish knight Gandales finds the child in the water. He takes the baby home and names him Sea Child. The boy grows incredibly strong.

King Langines of Scotland takes the young man to his court. King Lisuarte arrives with his daughter Oriana. The Sea Child falls in love with the princess. This pure love guides all his future actions. The young man asks to be knighted. Perion arrives at the palace by chance. He performs the initiation ceremony, completely unaware of his relationship with the young man.

A young warrior sets out on a journey. Perion asks for help in his war against the Irish monarch Abies. The Sea Child answers the call. A fierce duel between him and the mighty Abies begins. The youth delivers a fatal slash. Elisena recognizes the ring and the old sword. The Sea Child receives his true name — Amadis of Gaul.

Perion’s second son is kidnapped as a child by the giant Gandalak. The boy is named Galaor. The giant raises him as a warrior. Galaor receives knighthood from Amadis, but the brothers do not yet know each other. Galaor slays the giant Albadan. Amadis is captured by Arkalaus. The villain robs the hero of his powers. Two girls rescue the prisoner. Amadis frees dozens of people languishing in the dungeon.

Trials on Solid Island and magical artifacts

The ancient ruler Apolidon left a complex magical barrier on the Solid Island. Only a truly loyal knight can pass under the Arch of True Lovers. Amadis easily overcomes the barrier. A copper figure blows a horn, showering the hero with flowers. Amadis then passes through the Protected Chambers. He endures a hail of invisible blows. The knight gains power over the entire island.

An elderly nobleman brings magical artifacts to Lisuarte’s court. A blade with a half-flaming edge can only be drawn by a devoted lover. Dried flowers bloom on the head of only the most faithful woman. Under the name Beltenebros, Amadis secretly arrives at the palace. He easily draws a glittering sword from its bone sheath. Oriana then dons the wreath. The dead buds instantly burst into vibrant colors.

Oriana soon learns of the young Queen Briolanche. The princess suspects Amadis of infidelity. Oriana writes the knight a stern letter, forbidding him to appear before her. Amadis retreats to the deserted mountains. He settles on Poor Rock with the hermit Andalod. The young man expects a quick death from melancholy.

Oriana regrets her mistake. She sends the Danish Maiden to find the knight. The messenger lands on the Poor Rock. She recognizes Amadis by his scar. The hero receives a letter of forgiveness. His strength rapidly returns. On the way back, the hero encounters the giant Famongomadan. Beltenebros pierces the giant with a spear. The prisoners are freed. Amadis secretly reunites with Oriana.

Arkalaus Dungeon and the Battle with the Giant

Amadis, Florestan, and Perion fall into Arkalaus’s trap. The villains lower the floor of the room 10 meters into a deep dungeon. The loyal squire, Gandalin, finds an iron winch. He raises the floor back up. The knights break free. They kill the guards and leave the cursed castle.

Later, Amadis sails to the island of the Red Tower. The local ruler, Balan, forces the strangers to a duel. Amadis pierces the giant’s shield, striking his helmet hard. Balan falls unconscious from a severe chest contusion. The hero spares his defeated opponent. Balan releases the captives. The enormous giant becomes Amadis’s faithful friend.

The Journeys of the Green Sword and Endriago

A treacherous old man slanders Amadis. Believing the slander, Lisuarte alienates the hero. Amadis, along with his loyal companions, leaves the royal court. Soon, he takes the name Knight of the Green Sword. The hero travels to distant Germany. There, he defends the weak and cruelly punishes his enemies. Finding himself in Bohemia, the knight aids the local monarch. He easily defeats the superior forces of the Roman Emperor Patinus.

Oriana secretly gives birth to a son. The child is named Esplandián. A ferocious lioness carries the boy off into the forest. The hermit Naciano takes the child from the predator. The lioness nurses Esplandián with her milk. The boy grows up in the forest under the care of an elder. Lisuarte encounters the child by chance while hunting. The monk Naciano gives the baby to the king to raise.

Amadis finds himself on Devil’s Island, where the monster Endriago dwells. The beast is covered in scales and breathes fire. The Knight of the Green Sword boldly confronts the monster. Amadis gouges out the monster’s eye. Then the knight plunges his blade deep into the beast’s nostril. Endriago falls dead. The victor suffers terrible wounds. The wise healer Elisabad saves the hero’s life.

War of Kings and Reconciliation

Emperor Patinus demands Oriana’s hand. Lisuarte agrees. The princess is forcibly sent away on Roman ships. Amadis learns of the violence. The fleet of the Hard Island intercepts the Roman squadron. The knights boldly board the enemy ships. Amadis frees Oriana and takes the girl to his protected domain.

A bloody war breaks out. Lisuarte joins forces with Patinus. Amadis summons friendly monarchs. Colossal armies clash on the battlefield. Amadis fights in a golden helmet. He crushes the enormous warrior Brontachar. In the melee, Amadis kills the Roman Emperor Patinus. Lisuarte’s troops suffer heavy losses. The battle pauses.

The holy elder Naciano arrives at the camp. He reveals Esplandian’s secret to Lisuarte. The king learns the truth about his grandson. Lisuarte immediately offers peace. The warring parties joyfully lay down their arms. The evil sorcerer Arkalaus tries to seize the moment. The villains attack Lisuarte’s weary troops. Amadis comes to the aid of his former enemy. Arkalaus’s forces are completely defeated.

Magnificent weddings are celebrated on the Solid Island. Amadis marries Oriana. Galaor marries Briolanha. Oriana passes through the Protected Chambers. The ancient magic of Apolidon is destroyed. The island loses its magical properties.

The Deeds of Young Esplandean

A huge ship shaped like a snake arrives on the island. The wise Urganda takes Esplandián. The young man is knighted. Esplandián receives an enchanted sword. The hero confidently defeats the black magic on the rock of the Enchantress Girl. He frees Lisuarte from a dark Persian dungeon. The wizard Arkalaus meets his death at the hands of the young warrior.

The young man arrives in Constantinople. Princess Leonorina captivates his heart forever. Esplandián rescues Urganda from the captivity of the sorceress Melia. War between Christians and pagans begins. Queen Calathia of the Amazons fights on the Persian side. Lisuarte and King Perion die heroically on the battlefield. The Christians win a hard-fought victory.

Esplandianus marries the beautiful Leonorina. Calafia embraces the new faith and marries Galaor’s son. Urganda is rescued from the high tower. The festivities in Constantinople are interrupted by a surprising event. Esplandianus’s enchanted sword mysteriously disappears into the depths of the sea. The Lady of the Rock takes the weapon back to the watery depths.