ABSTRACT
At the time that Sir Richard was the count of Poitiers, before he became king, Bertran de Born was his enemy because of his love for the Young King, who was at that time at war with his brother, Sir Richard. Sir Bertran had arranged for these men to sign a pact against Richard: the good viscount of Limoges, whose name was Sir Aimar; the viscount of Ventadorn; the viscount of Gimel; the count of Perigord and his brother; the count of Angoulême and his two brothers; count Raimon de Toulouse; the count de Flandres; the count de Barcelona; Sir Centule d’Astarac, a count from Gascony; Sir Gaston de Béarn, the count of Bigorre; and the count of Dijon. And they all abandoned him, making their peace without him and perjuring themselves in his regard. Even Lord Aimar, the viscount of Limoges, who was more closely attached to him through love and oaths, abandoned him and made his peace without him. Upon hearing that all had abandoned Bertran, Sir Richard came to Hautefort and set up camp with his army before the castle, saying and swearing that he would never leave until Bertran had given him Hautefort and surrendered to his command. Bertran, when he had heard what Richard had sworn to do, gave up his castle to him and surrendered to his command. And Count Richard received him, pardoning him and kissing him. From these two events 1 Sir Bertran composed this sirventes: I am not so discouraged Even though I have lost… (80, 21: 1–2)
