In 778 A.D., the Muslim commander Mirat refused to surrender the castle of Mirambel, which was besieged by Charlemagne. When an eagle dropped a live trout into the castle grounds, Mirat sent it to Charlemagne as proof that his men lacked for nothing. But the ruse was discovered and Mirat, to save his garrison, finally came to terms. He had vowed to surrender to no man, but agreed to surrender to the Mary, the Queen of Heaven. He converted to Christianity and was baptised Lorus, from which the name of the city beneath the castle, Lourdes, is now derived. Or so the legends tell us.
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