PART IV. THE HISTORICAL BASES UPON WHICH TIRANT’S SPHERES OF OPERATION ARE FOUNDED
CHAPTER I. THE WILLIAM OF WARWICK EPISODE 133
This episode is given a setting in the first part of the fifteenth century.—Henry VI and Richard of Beauchamp.—Sir John Stuart and the Duke of Exeter.—The author’s method in composing his work.
CHAPTER II. CONCERNING THE ORDER OF THE GARTER 140
Inconsistency of two passages in _Tirant lo Blanch_.—Circumstances that led to the institution of this Order.—Names of members selected by the King.—Golden Collar of the members.—Although some of the details are inaccurate from a historical standpoint, yet Martorell reveals an intimate knowledge of the Order.
CHAPTER III. TIRANT SUCCORS THE KNIGHTS OF RHODES 146
The attempt of the Genoese to capture Rhodes.—Rhodes threatened by the Turks.—Siege of Rhodes, in 1444, forms the historical background of Tirant’s enterprise.
CHAPTER IV. TIRANT JOINS THE EXPEDITION OF THE KING OF FRANCE AGAINST THE INFIDELS 150
Certain incidents and geographical names pertaining to this expedition coincide with certain others in connection with the Crusades of Louis IX.—Joinville’s description of the king’s leap into the sea compared with a later version.
CHAPTER V. TIRANT CONQUERS AND CHRISTIANIZES ALL BARBARY 152
Portuguese campaigns against the Moors do not furnish any material for this undertaking.—Statements in regard to the origin of _Tirant lo Blanch_ apparently refuted.—Muntaner’s _Chronica_ furnished historical background for Tirant’s activities in Barbary, perhaps suggested by Guy of Warwick.
General description of _Tirant lo Blanch_.—This Catalan romance of chivalry is a composite historical novel, with a hero of a composite historical character.
In Chapter VI of the immortal work, _Don Quijote de la Mancha_, is given a glowing account of the burning of the books to which were ascribed the mental derangement of the “ingenioso hidalgo.” In the passage in question, Cervantes, speaking through the priest, pays the following tribute to the Catalan romance of chivalry, _Tirant lo Blanch_:
[1]Válame Dios, dijo el Cura, dando una gran voz.—Que aquí esté Tirante el Blanco! Dádmele acá, compadre; que hago cuenta que he hallado en él un tesoro de contento y una mina de pasatiempos. Aquí está D. Quirieleisón de Montalbán, valeroso caballero, y su hermano Tomás de Montalbán, y el caballero Fonseca, con la batalla que el valiente de Tirante hizo con el alano, y las agudezas de la doncella Placerdemivida, con los amores y embustes de la viuda Reposada, y la señora Emperatriz, enamorada de Hipólito, su escudero. Dígoos verdad, señor compadre, que, por su estilo es éste el mejor libro del mundo: aquí comen los caballeros, y duermen, y mueren en sus camas, y hacen testamento antes de su muerte, con otras cosas de que todos los demás libros deste género carecen. Con todo eso, os digo que merecía el que lo compuso, pues no hizo tantas necedades de industria, que le echaran á galeras por todos los días de su vida.[2]