La Spagna, also called La Spagna in rima is a 14th-century Italian epic attributed to the Florentine Sostegno di Zanobi and likely composed between 1350 and 1360 The poem is in ottava rima, composed of 40 cantos each of about 40 octaves. The work is an adaptation of the story of Charlemagne's battles in Spain and the adventures of his nephew, the paladin Orlando, including the tale of his mortal duel with Ferraguto and his ultimate death at Roncesvalles. The material derives originally from the much translated and adapted Pseudo-Turpin Chronicle. The story of the death of Roland is also treated in The Song of Roland. An adaptation of the Pseudo-Turpin material also occurs in the anonymous Franco-Venetian epic L'Entrée d'Espagne. La Spagna, which has been described by critics as "a darkly dramatic and often electrifyingly effective treatment of Ganelon's final treachery and Orlando's noble death", was an important source for the Italian romantic epics Morgante by Luigi Pulci, Orlando innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo and Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.
Plot
The poem is an imaginative retelling of the events of Charlemagne's war against the Moors of Spain commanded by King Marsilio, including the historical events of the siege of Pamplona, the siege ofSaragossa and the rout of Roncesvalles. The author begins with Charlemagne's intention to subdue Spain and then give the crown to his nephew, the count Orlando. Charlemagne goes to Spain with his army and attacks several major cities, including Pamplona, ruled by King Isolieri. Orlando challenges the Saracen knight Ferragu/Ferraù to a duel and kills him on a bridge . Believed dead, Orlando has a series of travels and adventures that lead him to North Africa and elsewhere. In the end, the author tells the famous episode of the treachery of Gano of Maganza, envious of the glory of the family of Orlando. In the great battle of Roncesvalles, the main characters die, but are vindicated by Charlemagne, who is finally able to conquer Spain and to condemn the fraudulent Gano.
