A Wizard in Rhyme

"A Wizard in Rhyme" is a series of fantasy novels written by Christopher Stasheff.

A Wizard in Rhyme takes place in an alternate history of medieval Europe, featuring several geographical differences (most notably a land-bridge connecting the Britain to the mainland) and two major supernatural differences: the existence of magic, which can be influenced by the speaking of rhymed verse; and the established and real presence of the Judeo-Christian God and Devil, leading to a prevalence of Christian thought and morality. Its main character is Matthew Mantrell, a Ph.D. student from our universe, who is taken to this alternate universe after interpreting an enchanted piece of parchment.

Geography

The following are domains of the realms covered in the novel, with the approximate geographical counterparts in the real world.

* Merovence : (France) When introduced in Book 1, it was ruled by recent usurper Astaulf, who shared power with his sorcerer-henchman Malingo. Merovence was, at the time, the last bastion of morality and Christianity within Europe, as its rightful ruler, the uncrowned Princess Alisande, was still devoted to good. Its patron saint, Saint Moncaire, took action to save it from destruction: he sent a magic spell, encrypted in the language of Merovence, out into the other universes; the first person to interpret it would be drawn into Merovence and help in the crusade against evil. That man was Matthew Mantrell. Its name is probably derived from the Merovingian line or from Merovech, and its capital is called Bordestang.

* Allustria : (Germany/Austria) When introduced in Book 3, it was ruled by the witch-queen Suettay, and an army of scribes in an extensive bureaucratic network. The name "Allustria" is either derived from Allemagne (French for Germany) combined with Austria or Austrasia.

* Ibile : (Spain) When introduced in Book 2, it was ruled by sorcerer-king Gordogrosso, and then by Prince Rinaldo after The Gross One's defeat. The name "Ibile" seems to have been derived from Iberia, and its capital is called Orlequedrille.

* Latruria : (Italy) When introduced in Book 4, it was ruled an evil sorcerer-king who was succeeded by his grandson, Boncorro. The name "Latruria" seems to have been derived from Latins or Latium. Its capital is Venarra.

The Realms of A Wizard in Rhyme

The magical world Matt found himself in was modelled after Medieval Europe, with some common history with Matt's original world up to a point. It was also a world where the Christian church existed and had been founded through the same history at Matt's original world.

Differences between history in Matt's original world and the new realms

It was revealed to Matt in the stories that the evil he encountered was not new, but had once been held in check. Several centuries before, a hero by the name of Hardishane had fought the forces of evil back from the realms and established an Empire of goodness and order. Hardishane was crowned in the year 862, and died in 925. Though a believer, he firmly rejected being crowned by the Pope, reasoning that neither the church should partake in governance, nor rulers in ministry. His descendants had continued to rule until the year 1084, when the last reigning emperor, Lornhane, was unable to overcome the chaos that broke out in the empire. Lornhane did, however, have the wisdom to appoint kings to various regions of the empire—Allustria, Merovence, Ibile and all the Northern Lands and Isles—to facilitate order in those parts. After the dissolution of the empire, kings kept order in their kingdom for some years more (Matt seems to have entered Merovence during the 14th century, since that is the oldest style of architecture he observes in Bordestang), but one by one each kingdom fell to evil. It is rumored that some descendent of Hardishane still lives, unknown and uncrowned, and will return Europe to Empire should all her kingdoms fall into decay, but due to Matthew's intervention this was proved to be unnecessary. As the series continues, Matthew, his beloved wife Alisande (now queen of Merovence), and several of his allies, including Sir Guy de Toutarien (the aforementioned anonymous descendent of Hardishane), continue to liberate the nations of Europe from the grip of evil.

In the fourth novel, it was revealed that in the new realms, Romulus and Remus were suckled by a wildcat. Later, Romulus lost to Remus, and the city of Reme instead of Rome was built.

Instead of being enemies, Horatius Cocles persuaded Lars Porsena and other Etruscan leaders to create a confederation of Etruscan and Latini states promoting peace and trade. Freemen fought with blunted weapons at the Circus like entertainers. The empire of Latruria was established, convincing Gauls, Goths (Germans), Greeks, Egyptians and even Carthagians to join, Hannibal Barca being instrumental in the latter's decision. Judea was initially resistant, but menaced by Medes (Persia was conquered by Alexander), accepted Reme's offer of help.

The Huns invaded, but were roundly defeated by the Reman legions, and settled down instead as ranchers in the steppes instead of nomads.

Julius Caesar founded a line of emperors when the expanded territories required faster decisions than the Senate of Etruscans, Latini and Carthaginians could cope with. Brutus supported Augustus to be heir, and the line of Caesars continued without needing to adopt the Claudians. One of the Caesars, Caesar Decembris, converted to Christianity and through example, led most of the empire to convert too.

Eventually, the northern islanders who accepted Reman way of life decided to secede from the confederation, thinking to "fare better by themselves". Other members gradually followed suit and Reme was left alone. Friends slowly turned into rivals and Reme was sacked by Vandals. Embittered, the Remans turned inwards to isolationism.

By year 653, the federated nations almost all broke up, but the empire was considered to end in the year 704 when the last of the Caesars died and Reme was attacked first by Visigoths, then by Ostrogoths.

The Mohammedans (Muslims), also known as paynims to the Europeans, also existed and held North Africa and the Middle East. During the time of Hardishane's grandfather, they held a portion of Ibile and invaded Merovenve through the mountains.

Cortshank the Hardy raised an army in Bordestang and fought against the Moors, using mountain terrain against the faster Moorish horsemen, allowing the heavier European knights to deploy their advantage of weight. The Moors were routed and their presence in Ibile survived when reinforcements from Africa arrived to support Emir at Aldocer, the sole remaining Moorish hold in Ibile.

Cortshank's victory made him popular enough for the people to make him the new king. In Ibile, the knights of Ibile were able to hold against the Moors, conducting mutual raids, until Gordogrosso came to power and made the Moors afraid.

Novel series

# Her Majesty's Wizard (1986)
# The Oathbound Wizard (1993)
# The Witch Doctor (1994)
# The Secular Wizard (1995)
# My Son, the Wizard (1997)
# The Haunted Wizard (1999)
# The Crusading Wizard (2000)
# The Feline Wizard (2000)