Myths and Legends of the Middle Ages

Their Origin and Influence on Literature and Art

H.A. Guerber, Guerber

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9780710310903
• eBook ISBN:
  9781136214219
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Anthropology
• Index: Social Sciences

First Published in 2005. This classic work presents sixteen key myths and legends of the Arthurian, Carolingian, Teutonic and Scandinavian cycles which embody the chivalric code and which inspired the greatest works of romance literature and art. Some, like Tristan and Isolde, Merlin and the Niebelungenlied, are well known. Others, such as the tale of the Amelings and the Langobardian Cycle are rarely encountered. All of the tales and the tourneys, quests, vows, battles and betrayals of which they tell have retained their enchanting power through the ages. They illuminate the mystical significance of knighthood and its ethos of self-purification and honour, allowing us to decode many of the allusions found in medieval art, literature and song. Written for the general reader with captivating style, this work makes the lore of the chivalric Middle Ages accessible and enriches our understanding of a magnificent age.

GLOSSARY AND INDEX

A

AA’CHEN. See Aix-la-Chapelle, 197

AB - RA - CA - DAB’RA. Malagigi’s charm, 207

ACRE. Besieged by Ogier, 175

ADENET (ä-de-nā’), 175

ÆS’CHE-RE. Attacked by Grendel’s mother, 9; bewailed by Hygelac, 9 ; avenged by Beowulf, 11

AGNAR. Son of Ragnar Lodbrok, 331 ; death of, 336

AI-GO-LAN’DUS. Pagan monarch besieged by Charlemagne, 181 ; again besieged in Pamplona, 182 ; his death, 182

AIX-LA-CHAPELLE’, 168, 196, 197

A’LARD. Parents of, 202 ; brother of Renaud, 203 ; cruelly attacked by Charlot, 204 ; his magnanimity, 204

AL’BA-NACT. Son of Brutus ; gave name to province of Albania, 379

AL’BER-ICH (see Laurin and Elbegast). Guards Nibelungen hoard, 69 ; receives messengers from Kriemhild, 81 ; reveals himself to Ortnit and struggles with him, 114, 115 ; helps Ortnit, 117 ; counsels Wolfdietrich, 132 ; met by Dietrich, 136 ; assists Charlemagne on a marauding expedition, 164

AL’BOIN. Son of Audoin, 102 ; forces Rosamund to wed him, 103 ; defeats Ostrogoths, 104 ; murder of, 104

AL’DRI-AN. Lures Etzel, 160

AL-EX-AN’DRE LE GRANT. Synopsis of, 374–376

ALEX’IS. Knight, Angela’s lover, 224

AL’FER-ICH. Same as Alberich

AL-FON’SO. DON. History of, 354–355 ; made king, 357

ALF-SOL. Story of, 327–328

AL-I-MAY’MON. Reveals secret of capture of Toledo, 354 ; dies, 359

AL’PRIS. See Alberich

AL-TE’CLER. Sword of Oliver, 177

AM’A-LING LAND. Same as Italy, 151, 155, 158

AM’A-LUNG. Son of Hornbogi, 150

A-MAN-DA. See Rezia, 231 ; kidnapped, 234 ; reunited to husband, 235 ; in Fairyland, 237 ; earlier versions of story, 238–240

AM’EL-RICH. Name for Hagen to ferryman, 89

AM’FOR-TAS. Illness of, 251 ; disappointed of hopes in Parzival, 258 ; healed, 266

AN’GE-LA, 224

ANGELICA. A princess of Cathay; Roland in love with, 195 ; seized as an offering to a sea-monster, 195 ; rescued by Rogero, 196

ANGLO-SAXONS. “Beowulf” composed by, 1

AN’GOU-LAFFRE. The giant stealer of Oberon’s ring, 223 ; persecutes Angela, 224 ; killed by Huon, 224

ANIMALS, ASSEMBLY OF, 36

AN’ZI-US. Emperor of Constantinople, 122

AQUITAINE. Etzel secures hostages from Duke of, 155 ; Walther takes bride to, 157

ARABIA. Charlemagne reaches, 180

ARDENNES (är-den’). Robber knight of, 170

AR-I-OS’TO. Italian poet, 163

AR-THUR. Herbart sent to court of, to sue for Hilde, 154 ; Ogier joins, 175 ; origin of legends, 273 ; birth of, 280 ; his sword, 286 ; is made king, 287 ; receives Excalibur ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• I. Beowulf
• II. Gudrun
• III. Reynard the Fox
• IV. The Nibelungenlied
• V. The Langobardian Cycle
• VI. The Amelings
• VII. Dietrich Von Bern
• VIII. Charlemagne and his Paladins
• IX. The Sons of Aymon
• X. Huon of Bordeaux
• XI. Titurel and the Holy Grail
• XII. Merlin
• XIII. The Round Table
• XIV. Tristan and Iseult
• XV. Ragnar Lodbrok
• XVI. The Cid
• XVII. General Survey of Romance Literature
• Index to Poetical Quotations
• Glossary and Index