Medieval Romance Novels: Origins and Key Features

Medieval Romance Origins

Medieval romance novels have their origins in Greco-Latin works that were translated into prose. These stories are often based on legends, such as those of Chrétien de Troyes about King Arthur. Works like Lancelot focus on the quest for the Holy Grail and the wars fought to reclaim the cup used at the Last Supper. These conflicts were known as the Crusades, missions to recapture holy sites from the Moors. The Crusades led to the creation of military orders in Europe, like the Templars and other knightly orders, to protect travelers on the road to Jerusalem from bandits.

Chivalric Romances

Chivalric romances emerged as an evolution of the epic. They use prose to narrate the exploits of knights, blending reality with fantasy. These narratives often detail the adventures a protagonist undertakes to prove worthy of his lady.

Features of Chivalric Romances

• Develop distinct adventures symmetrically, creating suspense and leading to the protagonist's goal.
• Include fantastic adventures with mythical creatures like ogres and giants.
• Feature exotic foreign lands as settings.
• Place the narrative in a distant past, creating perspectivism and distancing other characters' viewpoints.
• Present multiple antagonists, forcing the hero into struggles and victories.
• The protagonist is typically a knight of great strength, skilled in combat, tireless, unaffected by love, and always youthful and beautiful.
• The hero's actions are motivated by fame, honor from victories, and devotion to a lady.

Notable Works

These works offered an escape for readers of the time, often identifying with the heroes. Amadis of Gaul, written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, is a significant example, referencing the Arthurian cycle. In the story, Amadis is abandoned in a boat with a ring and a sword. He is adopted and, in his youth, meets Princess Oriana of Britain, to whom he swears allegiance. Despite facing many adventures, including Oriana's anger due to a misunderstanding, he eventually wins her love and discovers his noble lineage. The novel emphasizes effort and personal merit.

Tirant lo Blanch (White Strap), written by the Valencian Joanot Martorell, presents a more human gentleman. This knight suffers injuries, illness, and dies in his bed, making the book more relatable than others of its kind.