The Nonexistent Knight

“All these remarks, said by the king, gave pleasure, but they had been the same for years.”

Charlemagne addresses his paladins, hearing them announce their brave accomplishments and the number of soldiers at their disposal. He compliments each of them in turn, but these words are hollow. The paladins have heard the same words repeated for many years and, with each repetition, the words seem less sincere and less meaningful. The words, in effect, function like Agilulf’s suit of armor. They are hollow representations of the relationship between commander and officers, a vacant echo of an idealized order which is struggling to assert itself.

“Agilulf Emo Bertrandin of the Guildivern and of the Others of Corbentraz and Sura, Knight of Selimpia Citeriore and Fez was certainly a model soldier, but disliked by all.”

Agilulf is the ideal knight. He may have no body, but he is utterly dedicated to the chivalric code which teaches how to be a knight. Importantly, this code (and the ability to adhere to the code) does not make Agilulf likable. In actual fact, the other paladins resent his dedication to the code as it undermines their own honor. Agilulf’s existence and the other paladins’ resentment reveal the hollowness at the heart of the chivalric code.

“It’s all so different from what I expected.”

Raimbaut is introduced to war through the lens of disappointment. He has read about warfare and knights but, on reaching the army camp, he is saddened that the chivalry of legend is nowhere to be found.