Brewer's: Charlemagne

His nine wives were Hamiltrude, a poor Frankish woman, who bore him several children; Desiderata, who was divorced; Hildegarde, Fastrade (daughter of Count Rodólph the Saxon), and Luitgarde the German, all three of whom died before him, Maltegarde; Gersuinde the Saxon; Regina; and Adalinda.

Charlemagne's peers.
(See Paladins.) Charlemagne's sword. La Joyeuse. Faire Charlemagne. To carry off one's winnings without giving the adversaries “their revenge.”

“Faire Charlemagne cest se retirer du jeu avec tout son gain, ne point donner de revanche. Charlemagne garda jusqu' á la fin toutes ses conquetes et quitta le jeu de la vie sans avoir rien rendu du fruit de ses victoires. Le joueur qui se retire les mains pleins, fait conine Charlemagne.” —Genin Recreations. i. 186.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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