Ivo Taillefer

See also: Taillefer

Ivo Taillefer was the nickname of a Ménestrel or Norman knight whose name and the exact birthplace are unknown. It would have formed part in 1066 of forwarding of William the Conqueror to the Conquête of England according to Robert Wace which told its actions in worms in its Roman of Rou.

The Carmen de Hastingae Proelio affirms that the Bataille of Hastings, Taillefer asked for its Master the permission of give the first blows of the battle. Having received, it advances with the front of the English by reciting the Chanson of Roland and juggles with its sword and its lance, throwing them in the air and catching up with them with the flight by the point, which décontenancer does not miss the English who believe in supernatural capacities. It kills an English soldier who left the rows to defy it and shows his head as a trophy proving that God is as regards invader. Taillefer then charges the English lines with its horse which it had accustomed to run the open mouth. The English break their rows of fear to be bitten by the horse and Ivo of keep silent three of them before being itself cut in parts. Its death marks the beginning of the engagements.

Although the Tapisserie of Bayeux does not depict, at least in name, Taillefer, Wace mentions it in its Roman of Rou :

Taillefer , which mult well chantout,

Sor a horse which tost alout,

In front of the duke alout singing

Karlemaigne E of Rollant,

E of Oliver E of the vassals

Which morurent in Rencesvals.

Romance of Rou, v. 8013-8019

Geoffroy Gaimar, Guillaume de Malmesbury, Henri de Huntingdon and the Carmen de Hastingae Proelio also reported the history of Taillefer. The stories differ, some mentioning only juggling, others that the song, but all have joint elements. In its History off the English Speaking Peoples , Winston Churchill worked out a version drawn from all the various sources.

Reference

Gervais of the Street, historical Tests on the bards, jugglers and trouveres Norman and Anglo-Norman , Caen, Mancel, 1834

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