Pedro, King of Aragon (Hist.)

The gallant ruler of Sicily with whom young Lisa falls in love when she sees him at a tourna ment. When he learns from the minstrel Minuccio that the maiden is dying for love of him, he visits her and bids her live and he and his queen, Constance, take Lisa and her suitor, Perdicone, under their protection and advance their fortunes. Thereafter King Pedro wears Lisa's favour, and calls himself her faithful knight. George Eliot's poem tells the story of Lisa and King Pedro, without change of plot, from the tale in Boccaccio's Decamerone, tenth day, novel seven. The king in the story is Pedro III, King of Aragon, who acquired his claims in Sicily through his queen, Constance, daughter of Manfred of Beneventum, King of Sicily. Pedro became King of Aragon in 1276, King of Sicily in 1282, and died 1285.

How Lisa Loved the King

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