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The Legend Of The Red Cape |
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 he legend is placed in the far past, a past made of noblemen and noblewomen, knights, weapons, courage... .  On a mild winter day in Montagnana during the usual lively and loud market, all the sudden a handful of knights burst into the main square: "A threatening army from Verona is getting close to town!" he alarm was given. The Mayor and the Captain of the Guard prepared the defenses, distributed the rounds, placed the crossbow archers on the glacis, raised the water level of the moat and made sure that water and essential provisions were gathered. People were very scared, there weren't many soldiers, and reinforcements were necessary.The town Council summoned the sages and the representatives of the different guilds. Immediately messengers were sent to Padova to ask for the help from the great Da Carrara family.  ut, since the enemy was close and time pressing, the Town Council had to think of a way to discourage the enemy. They decided to cover the crosses with clothes and weapons, pretending these to be expert soldiers to deceive the enemy and gain time at least until the arrival of the Paduans. Every red cloth that could be found in town was sewn together with another in cloaks and then placed on wooden dummies along the heavy wall. It took them all night long. Women and men were dyeing, cutting and sewing, trying to win their battle against time. At dawn, when the enemy vanguards attacked to test their defenses, a terrible tune of trumpets and drum rolls came from the wall, and, unexpectedly, hundreds of soldiers in red capes appeared on the glacis and bulwarks as far as the eye could see.he gates of the town were opened and a great number of soldiers and knights wearing the red cloaks flung themselves in a brave exit. Behind them, near the gates, disguised men and women composed an army of flaming capes to let the enemy see the multitude of warriors ready to defend the town. The adversaries didn't expect such a high number of impetuous soldiers, and, in astonishment, they left the field. They opted for a retreat to think over the situation. They were the ones to have fallen into a trap! When the trick was understood they attacked again, but this time the Paduan army had arrived. Not only the town was saved but the defeated ones were pursued to the gates of Verona.o celebrate the victory, the town of Montagnana proclaimed a fest lasting six days and six nights. Every year a parade of red capes commemorated the event. |
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