The poem consists of 25,750 lines and is retained in two manuscript copies and was printed in 1841; a critical edition wasn't published until 1940.[1] This edition, by Edmond-René Labande, advanced two ideas about the poem. The first was that it should be dated to the middle of the fourteenth century rather than earlier in that century, and the second that it was written by two poets—the first a very capable writer with a fine sense of humor, the second a much less original one.[4]
According to Claassens, the plot "is impossible to summarize ... briefly".[3] The main character's father, King Ernoul of Nijmegen, travels to the Orient to deliver his brother from Saracen captivity. In the meantime his seneschal, Gaufroi of Friesland, takes Ernoul's place in his bed and on his throne, having betrayed his king to Sultan Rouge-Lion. Ernoul has four sons, all of whom go their various ways to escape the threat of death at the hands of Gaufroi; Baudouin is the youngest of them. At age two he is taken in at the court of the Lord of Sebourc.
Baudouin sires 31 (bastard) children, one of them with his patron's daughter.[3] He falls in love with the sister of the Count of Flanders, Blanche, and runs off with her. They intend to travel to the Orient, and this sets off a series of extraordinary adventures. They get married, but by hook and crook Gaufroi manages to capture Blanche, forcing Baudoin to travel alone, having adventures in places like Baghdad and Jerusalem. He is reunited with his family; together they return and are able to defeat Gaufroi. After a winter in Nijmegen Baudouin returns to help the King of Jerusalem fight off the Saracens, and he leaves, this time with his 31 children.
Backgroundedit
The poem is closely related to other poems from the Crusade cycle including Les Chétifs and continuations of the 13th-century La conquête de Jérusalem. The poem has historical connections; Baudoin seems to be based on Baldwin II of Jerusalem (d. 1131) and Guy of Lusignan (1150-1194), but his name, "de Sebourc", derives from a town near Valenciennes.[3]
A central tension in the narrative is between Holland and Friesland, a tension unique to Old French poetry but well known from the literature of the Low Countries. Gaufroi is Frisian, and the Frisian town of Leeuwarden falls to him by treachery. The poem comes from Hainault, and since the Counts of Hainault had become the Counts of Holland by 1299 (after the death of John I, Count of Holland), it appears that Hainault had adopted the animosity that existed between Holland and Friesland.[3]
Legacyedit
The poem has left no trace in the visual arts, and there are only a few surviving copies. While it exerted little influence on other works, it did, after translation into Middle Dutch, provide a source for names and motifs for the two plays Esmoreit and Gloriant.[3]
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^ abBossuat, Robert (1941). "Rev. of Edmond-René Labande, Étude sur Baudouin de Sebourc, chanson de geste, légende poétique de Baudoin II du Bourg, roi de Jérusalem". Bibliothèque de l'école des chartes. 102 (1): 229–30.
^Cook, Robert F. (1989). "Baudouin de Sebourc: Un poème édifiant". Olifant. 14 (2). Société Rencesvals.
^ abcdefClaassens, G. H. M. (2000). "Baudoin de Sebourc". In Willem Pieter Gerritsen (ed.). A Dictionary of Medieval Heroes: Characters in Medieval Narrative Traditions and Their Afterlife in Literature, Theatre and the Visual Arts. Anthony G. van Melle, Tanis Guest. Boydell & Brewer. pp. 53–54. ISBN9780851157801.
^Kibler, William W. (1970). "The Unity of Baudouin de Sebourc". Studies in Philology. 67 (4): 461–71. JSTOR 4173696.
Bibliographyedit
Labande, Edmond-René (1940). Étude sur Baudouin de Sebourc: chanson de geste. Librairie Droz. ISBN9782600045049.; légende poétique de Bauduin II du Bourg, Roi de Jérusalem, Paris, Univ., Diss., 1940
Hermann Breuer: Sprache und Heimat des Balduin von Sebourg : eine Reimuntersuchung, Bonn, Univ., Diss., 1904
April 10, 2024
baudouin, sebourc, fourteenth, century, french, chanson, geste, which, probably, formed, part, cycle, related, crusades, well, related, bâtard, bouillon, poem, likely, composed, 1350, hainaut, poem, consists, lines, retained, manuscript, copies, printed, 1841,. Baudouin de Sebourc is a fourteenth century French chanson de geste which probably formed part of a cycle related to the Crusades 1 and may well be related to Batard de Bouillon 2 The poem was likely composed c 1350 in Hainaut 3 The poem consists of 25 750 lines and is retained in two manuscript copies and was printed in 1841 a critical edition wasn t published until 1940 1 This edition by Edmond Rene Labande advanced two ideas about the poem The first was that it should be dated to the middle of the fourteenth century rather than earlier in that century and the second that it was written by two poets the first a very capable writer with a fine sense of humor the second a much less original one 4 Contents 1 Plot 2 Background 3 Legacy 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyPlot editAccording to Claassens the plot is impossible to summarize briefly 3 The main character s father King Ernoul of Nijmegen travels to the Orient to deliver his brother from Saracen captivity In the meantime his seneschal Gaufroi of Friesland takes Ernoul s place in his bed and on his throne having betrayed his king to Sultan Rouge Lion Ernoul has four sons all of whom go their various ways to escape the threat of death at the hands of Gaufroi Baudouin is the youngest of them At age two he is taken in at the court of the Lord of Sebourc Baudouin sires 31 bastard children one of them with his patron s daughter 3 He falls in love with the sister of the Count of Flanders Blanche and runs off with her They intend to travel to the Orient and this sets off a series of extraordinary adventures They get married but by hook and crook Gaufroi manages to capture Blanche forcing Baudoin to travel alone having adventures in places like Baghdad and Jerusalem He is reunited with his family together they return and are able to defeat Gaufroi After a winter in Nijmegen Baudouin returns to help the King of Jerusalem fight off the Saracens and he leaves this time with his 31 children Background editThe poem is closely related to other poems from the Crusade cycle including Les Chetifs and continuations of the 13th century La conquete de Jerusalem The poem has historical connections Baudoin seems to be based on Baldwin II of Jerusalem d 1131 and Guy of Lusignan 1150 1194 but his name de Sebourc derives from a town near Valenciennes 3 A central tension in the narrative is between Holland and Friesland a tension unique to Old French poetry but well known from the literature of the Low Countries Gaufroi is Frisian and the Frisian town of Leeuwarden falls to him by treachery The poem comes from Hainault and since the Counts of Hainault had become the Counts of Holland by 1299 after the death of John I Count of Holland it appears that Hainault had adopted the animosity that existed between Holland and Friesland 3 Legacy editThe poem has left no trace in the visual arts and there are only a few surviving copies While it exerted little influence on other works it did after translation into Middle Dutch provide a source for names and motifs for the two plays Esmoreit and Gloriant 3 References editNotes edit a b Bossuat Robert 1941 Rev of Edmond Rene Labande Etude sur Baudouin de Sebourc chanson de geste legende poetique de Baudoin II du Bourg roi de Jerusalem Bibliotheque de l ecole des chartes 102 1 229 30 Cook Robert F 1989 Baudouin de Sebourc Un poeme edifiant Olifant 14 2 Societe Rencesvals a b c d e f Claassens G H M 2000 Baudoin de Sebourc In Willem Pieter Gerritsen ed A Dictionary of Medieval Heroes Characters in Medieval Narrative Traditions and Their Afterlife in Literature Theatre and the Visual Arts Anthony G van Melle Tanis Guest Boydell amp Brewer pp 53 54 ISBN 9780851157801 Kibler William W 1970 The Unity of Baudouin de Sebourc Studies in Philology 67 4 461 71 JSTOR 4173696 Bibliography edit Labande Edmond Rene 1940 Etude sur Baudouin de Sebourc chanson de geste Librairie Droz ISBN 9782600045049 legende poetique de Bauduin II du Bourg Roi de Jerusalem Paris Univ Diss 1940 Hermann Breuer Sprache und Heimat des Balduin von Sebourg eine Reimuntersuchung Bonn Univ Diss 1904 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baudouin de Sebourc amp oldid 1005758729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
