For the first time in my life, I took part in a real battle between men. The dead did not come to life again, the vanquished fled in disorder; every thrust of my lance helped save Carmona. That day, I would have died with a smile on my lips, certain of having contributed to a triumphant future for my city.

Even the children of Carmona were divided into two camps, and below the ramparts, among the brushwood and rocks, we battled with stones shouting 'Long live the…

It was as though some stubborn god spent their time in an immutable and absurd balancing act between life and death, prosperity and poverty.

I was born in Italy on the 17th May 1279 in a castle in the city of Carmona.

I would not have believed such an inferno could open up on earth. Men died but they did not retreat.

Our units were tired. There were many whining pessimists in the army. I threw these panicky people out of the army right away and set to work. I told our men w…

The enemy fought with savage fury, and met death with all its horrours, without shrinking or complaining: not one asked to be spared, but fought as long as the…