Unexpected Camino-book: Orlando Furioso

[MichaelC]

I recently started reading Italo Calvino's guide to the 15th century epic poem Orlando Furioso, and came across a completely unexpected Camino de Santiago reference.

Orlando Furioso, by Ludovico Ariosto, was based upon a series of older myths and legends about Charlemagne's paladins. According to Calvino, Venetian pilgrims on the Camino brought the stories back to Italy. There they were shared and embellished by other pilgrims heading to Rome. It is one of the major epic poems from medieval Italy.

In France the main stories focused on Roland's final battle and death at Roncesvalles (La Chanson de Roland). In Italy the stories were more expansive, and dealt with the various paladins' loves and battles across the known world, from China to the moon.

Interestingly, I have an English-language version that makes no mention at all that these were originally pilgrims' stories.

As for the story itself, so far there have been battles to win the hand of a pagan princess, two magic fountains (one fountain of love, and one fountain of hate), a couple powerful female warriors, and a flying hippogriff. And I'm only on the first section! It's set during the Saracen siege of Paris in the 8th century, so I don't think there will be any references to Santiago in the actual poem.

 

[Harington]

I recently started reading Italo Calvino's guide to the 15th century epic poem Orlando Furioso, and came across a completely unexpected Camino de Santiago reference.

Orlando Furioso, by Ludovico Ariosto, was based upon a series of older myths and legends about Charlemagne's paladins. According to Calvino, Venetian pilgrims on the Camino brought the stories back to Italy. There they were shared and embellished by other pilgrims heading to Rome. It is one of the major epic poems from medieval Italy.

In France the main stories focused on Roland's final battle and death at Roncesvalles (La Chanson de Roland). In Italy the stories were more expansive, and dealt with the various paladins' loves and battles across the known world, from China to the moon.

Interestingly, I have an English-language version that makes no mention at all that these were originally pilgrims' stories.

As for the story itself, so far there have been battles to win the hand of a pagan princess, two magic fountains (one fountain of love, and one fountain of hate), a couple powerful female warriors, and a flying hippogriff. And I'm only on the first section! It's set during the Saracen siege of Paris in the 8th century, so I don't think there will be any references to Santiago in the actual poem.

Translated into English by my ancestor! Sir John Harington...

 

[MichaelC]

Thank you for posting this! I enjoy reading your posts about literature related to pilgrimage and/or Spain (and Italy). Most of it is new to me .

Just a small remark: I'm a bit skeptical about Santiago pilgrims being the only or even main vector for transmitting Roland/Orlando material to Italy. Weren't the chansons de gestes known throughout the countries neighbouring France, independent of pilgrimage

This is totally new to me too. I only picked it up because I really like Italo Calvino, and this was one of his favorite books. I'm somewhat amazed that I've never heard of it before, or that it's not more well known outside of Italy.

I actually have no idea how important pilgrims were as vectors of stories. I took a course in Epic Poetry in college, and we were taught that these were mostly passed around through medieval courts. I always had romantic visions of wandering knights serenading Eleanor of Aquitaine in her court ... it never crossed my mind that humble pilgrims would have passed along the myths too.

Translated into English by my ancestor! Sir John Harington...

How cool! Have you read it? I'm only on Canto V, but I'm already starting to fall in love with this epic. It's definitely pure fantasy - anybody who grew up reading swords and sorcery adventures should give it a look.

And not to go too far off track, or off-camino, but anyone looking for a couple of strong female heroines will enjoy this too. It's Bradamante, a female knight, who's constantly rescuing the dude-in-distress, Prince Rugerro.

 

[chinacat]

And not to go too far off track, or off-camino, but anyone looking for a couple of strong female heroines will enjoy this too. It's Bradamante, a female knight, who's constantly rescuing the dude-in-distress, Prince Rugerro.

Nothing changes