The Duel of Alard and Bruno
The tragic duel of honor between two of Radimane's paladins in an affair of honor. Widely considered to be the concluding action in the wide-spanning Krauling Saga.
Summary
The spark of animosity between the two younger paladins of Radimane began with the tragic death of Tassilo, the favorite of Radimane. Tassilo's death is chronicled in the Song of Tassilo which details his own deeds and eventually his fateful death in the Rouvenou Pass. The feud between the two began when Alard, a close companion of Tassilo, hears of Bruno's envious vying for Tassilo's position of prestige among the ranks of Radimane's paladins. On receiving word directly from Bruno's brother Liudhard, Alard accuses Bruno of abandoning Tassilo to his fate in the vanguard and abandoning his vow to defend his fellow brothers. Bruno fiercely denies this and a scuffle between the two is only broken up by Bruno's brother Liudhard and his father Ferracutus who is now the most acclaimed among them in the eyes of Radimane.
The bitter animosity between the two men continues to stew as time progresses and is fanned a few times as Alard hears of Bruno's acquisition of Tassilo's sword Curtrendel and his subsequent loss of it during the campaigns in Lakia against the Hedbards. Eventually, without the mediating efforts of Ferracutus and Radimane, the two companions again come to blows and each swears to challenge the other to a duel. Both men differ in their responses to the other's proclamation as while Alard is young, rash, and boiling for a fight, Bruno has fostered a love with Radimane's daughter Remisa who he is betrothed to. Between the two men, Bruno has much more to lose and little to gain by fighting Alard to the death. Nevertheless, Alard is hell-bent on avenging the slight against his departed friend Tassilo and with tears in his eyes he begs for the chance to avenge this perceived slight. With his pleas stirring the ears of Radimane's courtiers and many of his lesser nobles, the old Emperor authorizes the duel despite his personal stakes as Bruno is his son-in-law.
The duel between the two men is a very personal and dramatic affair for both men. Alard himself armors himself in the same gear as Tassilo and in some tellings of the story, dons his dragon helm which was given to him as a gift by Bruno's father. Bruno himself is often depicted as romantically donning his armor one last time and poetically sharing a final embrace with his love Remisa before riding off to meet his rival in the field. When the two men meet, Alard remains fiery and determined to bring his enemy to justice while the normally headstrong and cocky Bruno remains shockingly stoic and quiet for much of the affair. The two men begin on horseback and slash away at each other, getting in hits and bumps each before dismounting and fighting on foot. While ordinarily Bruno was known as the better warrior compared to the younger Alard, Alard's determination and ferocity in the fight contrast with Bruno's general apathy, and the two are more evenly matched than normal. Bruno remains distracted throughout the duel as initially, he remains worried over the thought of him dying and leaving Remisa alone, and later, when the men dismount he notices Alard's apparel and his helm.
As the fight continues it becomes apparent that Alard has surpassed Bruno in determination and skill as he forces Bruno on the backfoot time and time again. Eventually, Bruno is distracted by a pale vision of Tassilo behind his opponent as the ghostly figure walks and sits beside Remisa. This distraction is enough for Alard to pick up his couched lance and run Bruno down who only has enough time to partially block the strike with his shield. Alard's strike pierces Bruno's armor and goes through his chest. The crowd is left in awe as Alard seems to break from his spell of rage and begins quietly mourning the death of his enemy. Alard's monologue before the dying Bruno reconciles the two and Alard promises to do right by his foe and see to his burial personally as well as ensure that Remisa is well taken care of when he passes.
The final lines of the poem are of various funerary orations before the assembled masses. Bruno's younger brother Liudhard says a few words as he mourns the passing of his brother. The Emperor himself laments the passing of his son-in-law but the most poetic words come from Bruno's betrothed as she laments that chivalric pride killed her beloved and that a duel of this kind should not have been allowed. Remisa denounces both her own father for allowing the duel as well as Alard for his bloodlust in seeing Bruno killed despite shaky evidence at best that Bruno undermined Tassilo at the Rouvenou Pass. In the end, Remisa is forever under house arrest and never remarries, Alard resigns from the side of Radimane and lives an obscure life of misery and drink. Radimane dies shortly after the duel, supposedly from the heartbreak of it all.
The bitter animosity between the two men continues to stew as time progresses and is fanned a few times as Alard hears of Bruno's acquisition of Tassilo's sword Curtrendel and his subsequent loss of it during the campaigns in Lakia against the Hedbards. Eventually, without the mediating efforts of Ferracutus and Radimane, the two companions again come to blows and each swears to challenge the other to a duel. Both men differ in their responses to the other's proclamation as while Alard is young, rash, and boiling for a fight, Bruno has fostered a love with Radimane's daughter Remisa who he is betrothed to. Between the two men, Bruno has much more to lose and little to gain by fighting Alard to the death. Nevertheless, Alard is hell-bent on avenging the slight against his departed friend Tassilo and with tears in his eyes he begs for the chance to avenge this perceived slight. With his pleas stirring the ears of Radimane's courtiers and many of his lesser nobles, the old Emperor authorizes the duel despite his personal stakes as Bruno is his son-in-law.
The duel between the two men is a very personal and dramatic affair for both men. Alard himself armors himself in the same gear as Tassilo and in some tellings of the story, dons his dragon helm which was given to him as a gift by Bruno's father. Bruno himself is often depicted as romantically donning his armor one last time and poetically sharing a final embrace with his love Remisa before riding off to meet his rival in the field. When the two men meet, Alard remains fiery and determined to bring his enemy to justice while the normally headstrong and cocky Bruno remains shockingly stoic and quiet for much of the affair. The two men begin on horseback and slash away at each other, getting in hits and bumps each before dismounting and fighting on foot. While ordinarily Bruno was known as the better warrior compared to the younger Alard, Alard's determination and ferocity in the fight contrast with Bruno's general apathy, and the two are more evenly matched than normal. Bruno remains distracted throughout the duel as initially, he remains worried over the thought of him dying and leaving Remisa alone, and later, when the men dismount he notices Alard's apparel and his helm.
As the fight continues it becomes apparent that Alard has surpassed Bruno in determination and skill as he forces Bruno on the backfoot time and time again. Eventually, Bruno is distracted by a pale vision of Tassilo behind his opponent as the ghostly figure walks and sits beside Remisa. This distraction is enough for Alard to pick up his couched lance and run Bruno down who only has enough time to partially block the strike with his shield. Alard's strike pierces Bruno's armor and goes through his chest. The crowd is left in awe as Alard seems to break from his spell of rage and begins quietly mourning the death of his enemy. Alard's monologue before the dying Bruno reconciles the two and Alard promises to do right by his foe and see to his burial personally as well as ensure that Remisa is well taken care of when he passes.
The final lines of the poem are of various funerary orations before the assembled masses. Bruno's younger brother Liudhard says a few words as he mourns the passing of his brother. The Emperor himself laments the passing of his son-in-law but the most poetic words come from Bruno's betrothed as she laments that chivalric pride killed her beloved and that a duel of this kind should not have been allowed. Remisa denounces both her own father for allowing the duel as well as Alard for his bloodlust in seeing Bruno killed despite shaky evidence at best that Bruno undermined Tassilo at the Rouvenou Pass. In the end, Remisa is forever under house arrest and never remarries, Alard resigns from the side of Radimane and lives an obscure life of misery and drink. Radimane dies shortly after the duel, supposedly from the heartbreak of it all.
Historical Basis
The poem should not be taken as historical fact, many of the events of the poem do not line up with what is known to have taken place during the lifetime of Radimane. For instance, Tassilo's death at the Rouvenou Pass does take place in the correct sequence of events but the ages of Bruno and Alard make little sense as Bruno is in his late twenties while Alard is in his early to mid-twenties. This could not have been the case as both men would have been much older during this time as they were veteran military leaders during Radimane's campaigns in Hasdulia and Lakia. Radimane's death in particular could not have transpired as described as no mention of his own sons are given during this time.
Spread
Commonly considered a part of the romantic epic cycle of Hasdinian poetry, the duel of Alard and Bruno is considered the main conclusion of the story of Radimane and his paladins. This role as the final act of the overreaching storyline has made this story one of the more popular ones involving these characters.
Cultural Reception
Depending on the version of the poem that is told, an audience could be intended to side with Alard or Bruno in their fight with one another. It seems that Alard's motivation for avenging the seeming betrayal of Tassilo by Bruno is very in line with Hasdinian versions of chivalry. What is interesting is the final monologue of Remisa where she seems to challenge this assertion of implied responsibility on Bruno's part for Tassilo's death. She seems to attack the notions of Hasdinian chivalry itself as well as the implied responsibility held over Bruno for events out of his control. Remisa's words can either be seen as those of a lover in mourning for a death that was preventable or of a woman seeking to place the blame of a dishonorable man's death on those who honorably carried out chivalric justice.
In Literature
The duel between Bruno and Alard is considered a part of the wider Hasdinian epic cycle of poems and songs which detail the lives of Radimane and his paladins.
(Depiction of Alard and Bruno fighting on another on horseback)
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