Medieval Prose Fiction in Portugal: Cycles and Texts

Medieval Prose Fiction in Portugal

Prose fiction encompasses two narrative cycles: the Matter of Britain and the Matter of Troy, as well as several hagiographic texts (lives of saints).

Matter of Britain

The Matter of Britain (Breton cycle) consists of texts based on the story of Brittany that circulated throughout Europe from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The stories revolve around King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Three main parts are preserved:

• Joseph of Arimathea: Tells the story of the Jew who collected the blood of Christ in the chalice used at the Last Supper (the Holy Grail), and God's mandate to take it to Britain.
• Merlin: Presents the prophecies of this magician, announcing the arrival of new times and a knight who will rescue the Grail.
• The Quest of the Holy Grail: Narrates the adventures of the Knights of the Round Table in their search for the Holy Grail. Of the 125 knights who embark on the quest, only three are chosen: Bors, Perceval, and Galahad (the latter represents divine justice, around whom the book revolves).
• The Book of Tristan: Recounts the tragic love story between Tristan and Isolde.

The Matter of Troy

The Matter of Troy (Classic cycle): The Trojan War was a great success in Europe regarding narrative in the 17th century. The texts preserved in Portugal offer a medieval vision of classical Greece.

• The Trojan Chronicle
• Trojan History

Hagiography

The most noteworthy Galician text is "Miracles of Santiago," which includes many miracles, the destruction of Jerusalem, and a description of the Cathedral of Santiago. The book has a propagandistic character.

Historiography

Historiography is responsible for historical texts aimed at enhancing the prestige of the monarchy; therefore, they have a propagandistic purpose. These include:

• "General Story": A Portuguese version of the work of Alfonso X of Castile, which narrates events from the beginning until the reign of this monarch.
• "Chronicle of Santa Maria de Iria": A translation of Latin texts. It describes the transportation of the body of Saint James from the port of Iria, and several bishops.
• "Books of Lineage": Refer to the genealogy of the principal nobles of Portugal. There are four books, the last of which also contains references to minstrels and other Portuguese personalities of the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, as well as legends of great literary value.