The Emperor Charlemagne and General Milo de Angleris brought their soldiers into Spain to search for King Aigoland. They proceeded cautiously, and tracked him down in the area called Campus, on the River Cea. Aigoland was camped in the meadows in the best part of the plain. Afterwards in this spot, Charlemagne helped build a fine basilica for the bodies of the martyred saints Facundus and Primitivus. He also established a monastery, and a large and fertile estate.
Aigoland wanted the battle to be decided by a clash of champions: twenty from each side fighting one another, or forty, or 100, or 1000, or two, or even one versus one.
Charlemagne sent 100 soldiers against Aigoland’s 100, and Charlemagne’s 100 killed them all.
Aigoland sent another 100 Saracens, and they were all killed.
So Aigoland sent two hundred against two hundred, and again, all the Moors were killed.
Finally Aigoland tried 2,000 against 2,000, of whom some died in battle and others retreated.
On the third day Aigoland took part in a mystic rite, in where he forecast the future by throwing lots. He saw that bad fortune was in store for the Emperor, and ordered his whole army to parade for war. The challenge was accepted.
Some of the Christians, carefully preparing their weapons for war, stuck their lances into the ground in the meadow in front of the camp.
It is well attested that on the following sunrise, the lances had grown palm leaves of the type that are given to martyrs. It was a miracle, and all believed it to be a message from God.They cut the spears just above the ground, and the roots remaining in the earth grew into long staffs, and afterwards great trees which can still be seen there, from the many spears made of ash wood.
A great miracle, which brought joy and goodness for the soul, but terrible detriment to the body! For in the fight 40,000 Christians were killed, including General Milo, the father of Roland, who was one of those whose spear had grown leaves, and who now took the palm leaf of the martyrs.
Charlemagne’s own horse was killed under him, and he stood with 2,000 Christian soldiers who fought their way through the middle of the Saracans, butchering their way through the horde.
In the evening, both sides returned to their camps. The following day, four Italian Marquisses came to Charlemagne’s help with 4,000 experienced Italian troops. As soon as Agroland recognised them, he retreated to the city of León.
At this point we should remember that is it right to seek God’s blessing in a struggle. Just as Charlemagne’s soldiers prepared their weapons before the battle, we have our weapon to prepare before battle - the weapon of good virtues against the enemy that is vice. If you are going to stand on the side of Faith against heresy, or love against hate, or generosity against meanness, or humility against arrogance, or chastity against lust, or well-chosen words against demonic argumentativeness, or perseverance against instability, or silence against quarreling, or put obedience before carnal thoughts, your spear will bloom and you will be victorious in the day of God’s judgement.
How good it will be in the kingdom of heaven with a victorious soul, that fought justly against vice on earth!
Nobody is crowned except those who fight properly, and just as Charlemagne’s soldiers died in war for faith to Christ, we must die to sin, and live in the world with the holy virtues, until we earn the palm of triumph in the kingdom of heaven.