Line #7 Literature/EuricoThePresbyter


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eurico_o_presbitero.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:Portuguese cover of the book]]
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4	''Eurico, the Presbyter'' (or ''Eurico, o Presbítero'' in its original language) is a HistoricalFiction ChivalricRomance by Portuguese writer Alexander Herculano in 1844. Set during the [[EndOfAnAge dying days]] of the [[DarkAgeEurope Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania]], our protagonist Eurico is a [[HeartbrokenBadass heartbroken knight]] who has become a priest to alleviate the refusal to marry his beloved [[LoveInterest Hermengarda]] by her father. However, as the Umayyad conquest of the Iberian Penisula begins, he is thrust into action by taking a mysterious identity as the BlackKnight to liberate his land and [[SaveThePrincess save Hermengarda]].
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6	The story depicts how Iberian penisula fell under Arabic control with the most significant events like the death of King Roderic in battle with the Arabs and the victory at Covadonga being based in real life, only observed or participated by Eurico. While the main protagonist is entirely fictional, most of the cast are historical figures associated with that particular period or slightly renamed or changed, such as Hermengarda who is based on Pelagius' sister whose name is lost to history and her historicity is questionable.
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9	!! This novel contains the following tropes:
10	* AnachronismStew: In the Portuguese language at least, characters use the expression "Oxalá" ("God willing") which originates from the Arabic ''inshallah''. The problem is that they use this before the Arab invasion even takes place.
11	* AristocratsAreEvil: The emirs, walis and sheikhs are a given, though many Visigothic nobles aren't really much better such as King Roderic and Count Julian of Celta. Even the non-villainous characters like Flavila are actually very snotty and prickish.
12	* ArtisticLicenseReligion: The Arabs refer to Eurico as "Iblis, the king of Gehenna", by comparing him to a demon in human form because of his badassery in combat. In Islamic tradition, Iblis isn't a demon in the [[FallenAngel same sense]] as {{Satan}} is in Christian tradition; he is neither a punisher nor does he rule over Hell, but is rather a tempter that leads people astray which makes this comparison very off. Meanwhile Gehenna is actually part of ''Jewish'' tradition.
13	* BadassPreacher: The title protagonist was already a skilled knight before becoming a man of the cloth.
14	* BattleCry: The Arabs rally under "Allahu Ackbar", while the Christians rally under "Covadonga and Pelagius".
15	* BeenThereShapedHistory: Eurico was observant and took part in the most significant events during the fall of Hispania such as the Battle of Guadalete, rescuing Pelagius' sister that was kidnapped into an harem and [[spoiler:participating in the Battle of Covadonga, which established the Asturian state]].
16	* BlackKnight: Eurico as the Dark Knight is an [[TheHero heroic example]] who is a terrifying killing machine in combat and absolutely feared by his opponents.
17	* BigGood: After the fall of the Visigothic Kingdom, Pelagius becomes this trope for all Christians as the last remaining independent leader against the invaders.
18	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Eurico rescues Hermengarda and she is returned to her brother's safety. However, all of the Hispania outside of Pelagius' newly formed Kingdom of Asturias has fallen under Arab control which pushes Eurico to continue his fight to liberate it. He is forced to leave his beloved behind and never see her again, while she goes mad with grief. Though Pelagius has established the Kingdom of Asturias which begins the process of Reconquista, it will take many centuries and none of them will live to see it completed]].
19	* CadreOfForeignBodyguards: The Arabs employ warriors from Sudan as guardsmen.
20	* CavalryBetrayal: Two Visigothic nobles Sisebuto and Ebas betray Roderic during the Battle of Guadalete just to get the Spanish throne, which end up resulting in his death.
21	* ChurchMilitant: Eurico is a priest/knight/freedom fighter that fights for Jesus and his country. This become complicated when he also has to fight for the love of his life too.
22	* DamselInDistress: Hermengarda in typical chivalric fashion.
23	* DashingHispanic: Eurico is a Visigothic example, but he still counts as all the other tropes evidence it.
24	* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler:Because of his vow as a priest and his duty to the realm, Eurico is forced to leave his love interest behind]].
25	* TheDreaded: Some of the most superstitious Muslims come to see the Black Knight as the ''literal devil in human form''.
26	* EndOfAnAge: The story takes place in the final days of the Visigothic Kingdom, which is shown to be failing, corrupt and completely vulnerable to outside invaders.
27	* ExperiencedProtagonist: Eurico is revealed to be quite the badass in combat despite being introduced as a priest, due to having previously fought against the Franks.
28	* FreudianExcuse: Count Julian's reason for serving as TheQuisling to the Arabs; his [[PapaWolf daughter was raped and killed by Roderic]]. He doesn't even believe in Islam (much to his allies' outrage) and all he cares about is getting revenge.
29	* FounderOfTheKingdom: Pelagius goes on to establish the Kingdom of Asturias, the predecessor of modern Spain and Portugal.
30	* TheHorde: The Umayyad Caliphate descends upon Hispania conquering everything on their path.
31	* AHouseDivided: Hispania was far from a functioning and stable realm with several petty kings bickering with each other. It's only under Pelagius that things get a little better since the bad ones are out of the way.
32	* HeartbrokenBadass: Eurico becomes a priest to mitigate the pain of being refused the hand of his beloved in marriage. [[spoiler:He is certainly one by the end of the story]].
33	* TheHeavy: The emir Abdulaziz serves as a [[ArchEnemy more direct personal threat]] to [[TheHero Eurico]], even though he admits he recognizes the authority of only two men: his own father and military superior Musa and the caliph himself (though not named in the story, that would be Al-Walid).
34	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Most of the cast except for the main protagonist, who is entirely fictional.
35	* HistoricalVillainUpgrade: The historical Opas is said to have fought on the Visigothic side in Guadalete and was executed alongside all other Christian nobles by the Arabs. In the book, he betrays his fellow Christians during the battle in order to get the throne for his nephews [[spoiler:and is slain by Eurico for his treachery]].
36	* ILoveYouBecauseICantControlYou: Hermengarda rebukes Abdulaziz's offer to become his favorite wife since she still loves Eurico, but rather than being offended or outraged, he is even more ''attracted'' by her strong will.
37	* KarmaHoudini: Downplayed. [[spoiler:Abdulaziz ibn Musa loses Hermengada, but still survives to the end of the story. However, those [[ForegoneConclusion familiar with history find out]] that his [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abd_al-Aziz_ibn_Musa historical counterpart]] died later on as result of [[DecadentCourt court intrigue]] [[note]] Abdulaziz took a Visigothic wife who encouraged him to [[GoingNative adopt local costumes]] and his political rivals began instigating rumors that he converted to Christianity which led to the caliph ordering his execution also out of paranoia that he'd break away and form his independent monarchy in Al-Andalus[[/note]].]]
38	* KnightInShiningArmor: Despite having a dreaded reputation as the BlackKnight, Eurico is actually a more straightforward example of this trope since he fights for his faith, his country and the woman he loves.
39	* TheLowMiddleAges: The book takes place during this period and it's shown that Visigothic Spain wasn't that much better before the Arabs arrived.
40	* TheQuisling: One of the key reasons why Hispania fell other than being in disarray were individual Visigothic nobles that helped the Arabs conquer their fellow countrymen out of pure self-interest or grudges with the old regime and not because they converted to Islam, which is why the Arabs disdain them as "infidels".
41	* OutsideContextProblem: The Visigoths were completely unprepared for an invading force with a completely different culture and religion coming from the south since they spent a long time warring the Franks from the north, who were former barbarians that adopted the same costumes as they had.
42	* ParentalMarriageVeto: Hermengada's father Favila refuses to allow his daughter to marry a lowly knight.
43	* RebelLeader: Pelagius becomes one after the fall of Guadalete, since he is the last independent Christian leader resisting against Arab rule in the region.
44	* RoyalHarem: Abdulaziz keeps one and forces Hermengarda into it, being so taken by her beauty that promises that she will be his most favored wife and envied by his other women.
45	* SinisterMinister: Ebas and Sisebuto's uncle is a bishop that also betrayed the Visigoths to the Arabs.
46	* SoiledCityOnAHill: Hispania just before the Arab invasion was unambiguously portrayed as a morally decayed realm governed by extremely corrupt rulers like Roderic. It's because of their state they are completely unprepared when Tariq crosses the strait of Gibraltar and some Christians themselves believe the invasion is [[TheScourgeOfGod God punishing them for their inequity]].
47	* StarCrossedLovers: Eurico and Hermengarda. They are deeply in love with each other, but her father refuses to allow them to marry because of his status as a lowly knight. [[spoiler:After rescuing her from Abdulaziz's harem, they still can't be together because of his vows as a priest and his duty to liberate Hispania from the Arab occupation]].
48	* VillainousCrush: Abdulaziz for Hermengarda. Though he is initially taken by her looks, he decides to marry her after finding out she is Pelagius' sister since that would mean his domain would be submissive to him through their union.
49	* WarriorPoet: Eurico is just as capable of reciting and composing poems and hymns as he is to smash his enemies' skulls.
50	* WarriorMonk: The main protagonist, again.

Context Literature / EuricoThePresbyter