The Story of Majorca and MinorcaMarkham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
History
The Story of Majorca and Minorca
Markham, Clements R. (Clements Robert), Sir
Balearic Islands (Spain) -- History
Both knights proceeded to Naples and made their appearance on the
appointed day. En Salvador Sureda wore a crimson surcoat embroidered
with gold, and his horse was similarly caparisoned. His device was a
small falcon’s cage, with the motto ‘dentro está quier le cage.’ He
was preceded by three knights richly dressed, and three pages with the
helmet and plumes. The route along which he came was kept by several
friends, bearing the well-known Majorcan names of Dameto, Zaforteza,
Bosch, Mari, and Vivot. In advance of all was a herald, with trumpets
and minstrels and the Sureda standard, which was a cork-tree on a
golden ground. Valseca also came splendidly accoutred and similarly
attended.
At each end of the lists there were tents for the combatants, and on
the side a very richly ornamented pavilion for King Alfonso and his
young son Fernando, of whom the King was very fond. Ten knights, called
the ‘ten faithful ones,’ guarded the lists, and two others, nominated
by the King, were named ‘preservers of peace.’ At least twenty thousand
spectators were present.
There was complete silence, until a clarion sounded and the two
knights came out of their tents and mounted. On a second blast of the
clarion the two knights put their lances in rest and commenced their
furious careers. At that moment the King threw his warder down, as
our poor Richard II. had done some fifty years before, but with very
different consequences. The ‘ten faithful ones’ then rushed between
the combatants and wrested their lances from them. Their astonishment
was mingled with anger not immediately appeased. Young Fernando then
came down from the pavilion and called the two knights, who had
dismounted. He told them that the King his father was unwilling that
either knight should be killed, both being so distinguished and both
having sufficiently proved their fortitude, resolution, and valour.
Valseca and Sureda both placed themselves under the orders of the
King. The young Prince took a position himself between the two, and,
taking a hand of each, he led them up to King Alfonso, at whose feet
they knelt and did homage. The King obliged them to make friends,
conferred several benefits on them, and the day ended in rejoicing and
festivities. The standard of Sureda was hung in the cathedral of Palma.
There it remained until 1819, when it was burnt at the fire of the
ancient chapel of San Pedro.
Alfonso V. had achieved the conquest of Naples, though he lost his
brother Pedro during the siege. When he died, in 1458, his illegitimate
son Fernando succeeded as King of Naples, followed by his sons Alfonso
and Federigo. On their deaths Naples became part of the vast dominions
of Fernando of Aragon and Castille. Thus Alfonso V. restored all the
dominions of King Manfred to his descendants.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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