Renaud de Montauban
Renaud de Montauban, also known as Rinaldo di Montalbano, was a fictional hero who was introduced to literature in a 12th century Old French chanson de geste. His exploits form part of the Doon de Mayence cycle of chansons, also known as Les Quatre Fils Aymon ("The Four Sons of Duke Aymon"). The four sons of Duke Aymon are Renaud, Richard, Alard, and Guiscard.
Renaud's character
Renaud and his three brothers were sons of Aymon de Dordogne. They flee from the court of Charlemagne after Renaud kills one of Charlemagne's nephews in a brawl. A long war follows, during which Renaud and his brothers remain faithful to the chivalrous code of honour despite their sufferings, until Charlemagne is prevailed on by his paladins to make terms.
The four brothers are pardoned on condition that Renaud go to Palestine on the Crusades, and that their magic horse Bayard, which could expand its size to carry all four brothers on its back, be surrendered to Charlemagne. Charlemagne orders that the magic horse be drowned by chaining it to stones and throwing it in a river; but the horse escapes and ultimately returns to the brothers. Renaud, after further adventures on the Crusades, returns to Cologne, where he ultimately dies defending the builders of a shrine to Saint Peter.
Charlemagne is not portrayed sympathetically in this cycle of stories. He is portrayed as vengeful and treacherous; he is fooled by the sorcerer Maugris; the sympathy of the storyteller is clearly with the four brothers, but ultimately feudal authority is upheld. Renaud, as Rinaldo, is an important character in Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto. During the German occupation of Belgium during World War II, the story of Les Quatre Fils Aymon was made into a play that was banned by the German authorities, because of the sympathy it displayed for resisting authority; the play was performed underground and became quite popular.
Renaud's horse Bayard could only be ridden by a knight who had first conquered it by force. In Orlando Furioso, Rinaldo is the brother of Bradamante. Rinaldo and his cousin Orlando (Roland) both fall in love with Angelica and a rivalry arises between them. Rinaldo drinks from a fountain which causes him to fall in love with Angelica while she drinks from another fountain which causes her to hate him (Orlando Furioso I: 78). He is sent by Charlemagne to Britain where he recruits knights from Scotland and England to aid in the defense of France. He is finally cured of his love for Angelica when he drinks from another magic fountain (Orlando Furioso XLII: 63). He promises his sister, Bradamante to the African knight Ruggiero.
Rinaldo of Jerusalem Delivered
Renaud de Montauban should not be confused with Rinaldo, the son of Bertoldo and reputed founder of the house of Este in Torquato Tasso's epic poem Jerusalem Delivered (1580), though this second character is made out to be a descendent of the original paladin's sister Bradamante. The second Rinaldo is the son of Bertoldo and Sophia and he lived during the time of the First Crusade. According to legend, Bertoldo is the son of Azzo II, a real person who was count of Este (Orlando Furioso III: 29-30). One of Azzo II's sons was Welf IV, (Welf I, Duke of Bavaria). Jerusalem Delivered states that Bertoldo is related to Welf IV. (Jerusalem Delivered XVII: 81).