King Edward sends Castruccio (by way of Bristol and Cork) to Dublin. Piers Gavaston was in exile, and Castruccio was to bring him back to England. (Page 93). Gavsaton was a fascinating medieval figure. He was close friends with King Edward, who made him Earl of Cornwall, despite his humble background. Gavaston was extremely disliked by the nobles, who conspired to have him exiled on three different occasions. Finally when in 1312 when fighting broke out between the barons and the king, Warwick and Pembroke captured Gavaston, and executed him.

In 1309, Castruccio arrives in London, where he meets his cousin Alderigo. Castruccio soons finds favor with King Edward, which gains him the ire of the other nobles of the court. (Page 88).

After killing a Venetian noble, Castruccio flees Venice for Holland. The ship on which he flees first lands at Ostend (Valperga 96), which (in Castruccio's time) is a coastal "fishing village" (Britannica.com). This is where Castruccio meets an unnamed "rich merchant of Ostend, living in the Italian style, and surrounded by a family, whose language and persons transported him to the plains of Lombardy, or the vallies of his native Tuscany" (97).

Image - Este Castle

Castruccio and Guinigi pass through Padua on their way to Venice. They mention crossing Monte Selice, which must be an English translation, for I had trouble finding evidence of it. (Update - the translation in Italian is Monselice, and exists near Padua... Thanks Cate!!!) Through Gurinigi's eyes, Castruccio really appreciates the beauty surrounding him during this trip. Venice has "streets paved with the eternal ocean, its beautiful domes and majestic palaces" (83). 

 Monselice picture below!

Castruccio's father dies by "a malignant fever, brought by some trading vessles from the Levant" (74). Afterwards, Castruccio travels to Este by way of Bologna, Ferrara, and Rovigo. He spends the year with Guinigi, working on his farm and getting to know Guinigi's son. 

Where Edward II of England was reunited with Piers Gaveston. Edward entrusted Castruccio with the task of fetching Gaveston from Dublin in the hopes that sending Castruccio would not tip off other members of the royal court, who would then have time to plot against them before Gaveston's return. Edward left London to meet Gaveston in Chester, so that he would be reunited with him a few days sooner (92-94).

Euthanasia's castle in Valperga is about six miles north of the walls of Lucca (Shelley 273) (Curran 105).