Florisando

Florisando is the sixth book in the series of Spanish chivalric books that began with Amadis de Gaula. Its author was Ruy Páez de Ribera and its first edition appeared in Salamanca in 1510. The work, which following the cliché of false translation is said to have been taken from Tuscan, was dedicated to Don Juan de la Cerda, Duke of Medinaceli, Count of Puerto of Santa María and lord of the towns of Cogolludo and Deza.

Plot

The work includes a long prologue in several chapters, aimed at demonstrating the falsity of the enchantments. The text of the book itself, which contains 231 chapters, recounts the life of Florisando, the extramarital son of King Florestán of Sardinia, half-brother of Amadis de Gaula, and the beautiful lady Corisanda, princess of Norgales.

Florsiando is born during a sea voyage from Corisanda and is entrusted to the custody of a hermit named Enselmo, in an unknown land, while Corisanda retires to religious life on an island. Florisando's early love of chivalry leads him to receive his investiture from an unknown knight and he begins a life of adventure. The stranger is King Arbán de Norgales, brother of Corisanda, who together with Galvanes, Angriote and a few other knights constitute an obstacle to the plans to conquer Great Britain hatched by a group of pagans, giants and relatives of Arcaláus the enchanter. After defeating the giants of Perdición Island one after the other and conquering their castles, Florisando frees three brave knights from the court of Amadis from their prisons. The group is divided to provide aid to various territories attacked by the infidels (Great Britain, Gaula, the Firm Island). Florisando and his companions embark on a journey with the purpose of helping King Bruneo de Bonamar, besieged on the island of Landas. During the journey they liberate the territories of the King of Dacia and the King of Sardinia from the usurpers of the throne, and return that of Sardinia to King Florestan, whose sons Parmineo and Florestan join Florisando's group. Among the prisoners released in Sardinia is also Arquisil, son of the Roman emperor with the same name, husband of Leonoreta and father of Theodora. Arquisil is sent to Rome with an embassy from King Arbán, to ask the emperor for military support to face the attacks suffered by Great Britain and to intercede with the Pope to try to put an end to the enchantment of King Amadis and other famous knights. Both requests are accepted and the pope prepares a group of monks to go to the Ínsula Firme. Before reaching the island of Landas, Florisando's army liberated two other kingdoms, that of Saxia and that of Cantaria, and later managed to return their domains to King Don Bruneo. Back in Rome, Florisando wins a duel in favor of the Duchess of Ferrara, and falls in love with Teodora, the daughter of Emperor Arquisil. Prince Arquisil, knighted by Florisando, leaves for Great Britain at the head of a strong army; another army goes to Mongaza, and a third, led by Florisando, to the island of Perdición. Little by little all the territories occupied by the enemies are reconquered and their forces are destroyed. Meanwhile, after having gathered a large group of British religious, the monks sent by the Pope meet on the Ínsula Firme and perform a rite there that undoes the spell cast by Urganda the Unknown, and King Amadis and his companions are disenchanted. Aware of this, Florisando and his companions headed for London, where Emperor Arquisil also arrived along with his daughter Teodora. New love relationships and chivalrous confrontations develop at court. A request for help from Corisanda arrives, because the island where she is retreating is being besieged by enemies. Florisando goes to her aid, defeats the attackers, and is recognized by Corisanda. Back in London, Florisando is also recognized by his father, King Florestan: soon after, the wedding of Florisando and Teodora takes place; Prince Arquisil with Elisena, daughter of Amadis and Oriana; of Parmineo and Brisaida and of Paniflor and Claudia, and they divided up the conquered territories.

In the last chapter of the work, the author announces to the Duke of Medinaceli that part of it remains in which many other great events of Prince Florisando and these knights are recounted, and the death of King Amadis. And because I don't have the space to be able to translate, your lordship receive this, and if what remains is useful, I can take it out and compile the other part with it as your lordship will command me, so I put it into work.

Editions and continuation

Characterized by a moralizing and devout tone and the constant presence of religious elements as opposed to magical ones, Páez de Ribera's book was only reprinted twice (Toledo, 1510, and Seville, 1526), despite the which was continued by Juan Díaz in his Lisuarte de Grecia, published in Seville in 1526. A translation of the book into Italian, under the title Florisandro, was printed in Venice in 1550 and reprinted in 1551, 1600 and 1610.