10 /10 1 Votes
Originally published 1844 | 5/5 Goodreads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Eurico, the Presbyter (Portuguese: Eurico, o Presbítero) is a 1844 historical novel by Alexandre Herculano. It is about the ending days of the Visigothic king that existed in the Iberian Peninsula, as the Moors invaded it in the VII century.
Plot
The plot is about the love of Eurico and Hermengarda, and it is set in the Visigothic Iberian Peninsula of the VII century. Eurico and his friend Teodomiro fight aside the king of Spain, Wittiza, 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 area, where he falls in love with Hermengarda during Mass at the local church. Unknowing that she is from royalty, he propose to her father, Fávila, who is none other than the Duke of Cantabria. He being little better than a knight, the Duke evidently denies his request.
Appalled, Eurico becomes a presbyter in Carteia, for alleviating his pain over Hermenagarda, through religious functions and by compsing sacred hymns and poems.
An impending invasion by the Arabs, led by Tarique, leads him to assuming the alias of the enigmatic Dark Knight. As this new identity, Eurico fights the Arabs, and through his valour, gets the admiration of his own people and also of the mountaineers and of the Franks he 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, king of the Visigoths, dies at the Battle of Guadalete and Tedomiro becomes the new leader. The Arabs invade the abbey where Hermegarda is kept and kidnap her. The Dark Knight saves as the emir was going to violate her. He takes her to the Asturias, where her brother Pelágio awaits.
In a cave in Covadonga, Hermengarda finds Eurico and declares her love for him. He won't believe that this love can be true, 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 Arabs and the renegades Bishop Ops and Count Juliano of Ceuta.