Publisher's Synopsis
"Count Julian" by Walter Savage Landor is a dramatic narrative poem that reimagines the story of Count Julian, a historical figure from 8th-century Spain. Set against the backdrop of the Moorish conquest of Spain, the poem explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the clash of cultures. In Landor's retelling, Count Julian, a nobleman of Visigothic Spain, becomes disillusioned with his Christian compatriots and ultimately decides to betray his country to the Moors in a bid for vengeance. He forms an alliance with the Muslim invaders and facilitates their conquest of Spain, leading to the fall of the Visigothic kingdom and the establishment of Muslim rule.
