How we cite our quotes: (Stanza.Line)
Quote #4
"He will become a Christian and hold his marches as fiefs from me." (13.190).
Here is Charlemagne summarizing Marsile's offer to him and giving us a snapshot of what a 12th-century vassal looked like. Marsile would be an exceptionally wealthy and powerful vassal, in charge of his own city, but he would still hold this city as a "fief" from Charlemagne. So what the heck is a "fief"? In a feudal system, "fief" refers to heritable property granted to someone in return for specific services and allegiance.
In this case, Charlemagne is the feudal lord (the one who grants) and Marsile is the feudal vassal (the one who receives). The type of property being granted could vary widely, but for the feudal relationship between Marsile and Charlemagne, Saragossa would become "marches." For more on how marches are not the months that come after April, see "Setting."
Quote #5
The King replies: "You're a valuable man;
By this beard and by this moustache of mine,
You'll never go so far from me.
Go sit down, no one has called upon you." (17.248-51)
This weird moment points up Charlemagne's unclear motivations. If Duke Naimes is a valuable man, why wouldn't he make a good envoy? Is Charlemagne positive that the envoy will be killed? It also demonstrates how the council provides an important check on Charlemagne's power. Yeah, he can refuse the council's nominations, but he can't speak up for his own idea.
Quote #6
"Ganelon, come forward
And receive the staff and the gauntlet.
You have heard it, the Franks have nominated you." (24.319-21)
Although he angrily refused Naimes's, Turpin's, and Roland's offers to be the envoy, Charlemagne immediately accepts Ganelon. Does Charlemagne secretly hate Ganelon? Why is he not "valuable" the way Roland, Oliver, Turpin, and Naimes are?