Tirant lo Blanch: A Summary and Analysis
Part 1. Adventures in England (Chapters 1-97)
The English section of Tirant lo Blanch, also known as William of Warwick, begins with the story of William, the Earl of Warwick. After a glorious military career, the 55-year-old William decides to embark on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to seek atonement for his past deeds. He leaves behind his wife, son, and possessions. He gives half of his wealth and a ring with his coat of arms to his wife, keeping the other half for himself. On his return from the Holy Land, he passes through Venice, where rumors of his death have spread. Believing him dead, his wife, now convinced she is a widow, holds a funeral for him.
William, presumed dead, chooses to live as a hermit in his former county. He arrives in Warwick unrecognizable, with long hair and a beard, wearing a Franciscan habit. He establishes a chapel on his land and lives a charitable life. Some time later, the King of England announces his upcoming marriage to the Princess of France. As part of the celebrations, young noblemen can request to be knighted. Tirant lo Blanch, a Breton gentleman, is on his way to London with other young men to attend the festivities and seek knighthood. Tired from the journey, he falls asleep on his horse and gets separated from his companions. He finds himself near a fountain, not far from where William of Warwick lives.
Tirant encounters the hermit’s chapel, unaware of William’s true identity. During their conversation, William is surprised to learn that Tirant doesn’t know the rules of chivalry. He explains the nature and values of the Order of Chivalry. Having learned from the hermit, the young Breton continues his journey and rejoins his companions. They arrive in London and participate in the royal wedding festivities, which last for a year and a day. Tirant is knighted and participates in numerous jousting tournaments, emerging victorious in each one. On his way back home with his friends, they stop for the night at the hermitage. Tirant recounts the events of the festivities. When the hermit inquires about the best knight, Tirant’s modesty prevents him from answering. Diaphebus, Tirant’s cousin, reads a letter confirming that the King of England considered Tirant the best knight. The hermit-count wants to hear about Tirant’s exploits, which Diaphebus recounts. Once the King has knighted Tirant, the Breton enters the lists. In the first three jousts, he defeats his opponents. Here, the episode with the beautiful Agnes, daughter of the Duke of Berry, is introduced. Tirant promises to serve and fight for her in exchange for a brooch she wears on her chest. She agrees, but a jealous former suitor, Lord Barrentowns, challenges Tirant to retrieve the brooch. The encounter ends in bloodshed, with the Breton knight victorious. Soon after, the Kings of England, Frisia, and Apollonia, along with the Dukes of Bavaria and Burgundy, arrive. Tirant defeats all four, one after another. Then comes the giant Kirieleison of Muntalbà, seeking revenge for his lord, the King of Frisia. However, he suffers such grief over his sovereign’s death that he dies himself. After Diaphebus recounts Tirant’s exploits, the Bretons bid farewell to the hermit.
Part 2. Tirant in Sicily and Rhodes (Chapters 98-114)
Tirant and his companions head to Nantes, where they are warmly welcomed by the Duke of Brittany. Knights arrive at the court of the King of France with news that the Sultan of Alcaire (Egypt), aided by the Genoese, is besieging the island of Rhodes. Sailors who escaped the blockade warn the Christian princes, but neither the Pope, the Emperor, nor the Christian kings come to the aid of the Knights of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Tirant is moved by their plight and purchases a ship to assist them. Upon learning of this, Dark, a French gentleman, suggests that they include Philip, the fifth son of the King of France, who is not favored by his parents. The ship sets sail for Palermo to load wheat. Philip, described as short and coarse, falls in love with Princess Ricomana, daughter of the King of Sicily. Tirant helps Philip present himself in the best possible light, deceiving both him and Princess Ricomana, who cannot stand his foolishness. Warned of the imminent fall of Rhodes, Tirant returns to his initial plan. He embarks with Philip and the King of Sicily to reach the island. They enter the port, boldly breaking the siege, and thanks to a sailor’s cunning, they set fire to the Genoese ships allied with the Moors. They force the enemy troops to retreat, and Rhodes is liberated.
After Jerusalem and Alexandria, where Tirant rescues many Christian captives, they return to Sicily, where the wedding of Philip and Ricomana takes place. Tirant then accompanies the Kings of Sicily and France on an expedition against the Moors. After several victorious battles, they capture the city of Tunis and return to Palermo. Tirant departs with the King of France for Marseille, where he returns to Brittany to visit his parents and family. However, the King of Sicily summons him back to Palermo.
Part 5. Liberation of the Greek Empire and Tirant’s Death (Chapters 414-487)
Tirant returns to Constantinople, determined to fight for the Greek Empire. He requests an army from Escariano, King of Ethiopia, and another from Philip, King of Sicily. Tirant lands at Troy and announces his imminent arrival to the Emperor. The city of Constantinople is besieged by sea and land, and Hippolytus defends it as best he can. Upon learning of the Breton’s return, the Empress Widow ends her life by taking poison. Tirant defeats the enemy forces, who are at their limit, and demands peace. He secretly enters the city and meets with Plaerdemavida. True to form, she leads him to the princess’s bedchamber, where a secret marriage is consummated. After meeting with the Emperor, Tirant decides to sign a peace treaty and truce with the Sultan and the Turkish leaders. He returns to his camp and enters Constantinople, where he is received as a victor. The Emperor, to reward him for his services, offers him the hand of Carmesina and names him Caesar of the Greek Empire. During a short campaign, Tirant recovers the cities that had remained under enemy control and frees Diaphebus. While walking along a riverbank near Adrianople, he falls seriously ill and dies on the way to Constantinople. Upon seeing her love dead, Carmesina collapses and dies of grief after weeping over her secret husband’s body. The Emperor cannot bear the loss of his daughter and Tirant and dies as well. The Empress, now the heiress, marries Hippolytus, and they begin a new reign in a pacified empire. The bodies of Tirant and Carmesina are transported to Brittany, where they are buried in a magnificent tomb. An epitaph in verse celebrates their memory. Three years later, the Empress dies, and Hippolytus remarries an English princess, with whom he has three sons and two daughters.