Ipomedon

Ipomedon is a romance composed in Anglo-Norman verse by Hugh de Rotelande in the late 12th century at Credenhill near Hereford. In the sequel Protheselaus, which must have been composed slightly later, Hue acknowledges as his patron Gilbert fitzBaderon, lord of Monmouth. Gilbert's death in or just before 1191 gives an approximate terminus ante quem to both romances.

Ipomedon is comparatively rich in references to the real world in which the poet lived. He names himself in full Hue de Rotelande (line 33 and two other places) and confirms that his house was at Credenhill: A Credehulle a ma meisun (line 10571). He mentions the siege of Rouen by King Louis VII of France in 1174 (lines 5351-5352), and also names a Welsh king called "Ris", almost certainly Rhys ap Gruffydd (line 8942). He has a backhanded compliment for the well-known writer Walter Map, evidently a friend or rival: Sul ne sai pas de mentir l'art: Walter Map reset ben sa part ("I am not the only one who knows the art of lying: Walter Map is equally good at it" (lines 7185-7186). A certain "Huge de Hungrie" who appears in the poem as a seducer of women is generally thought to represent Hugh, canon of Hereford, another friend or rival.

Many of the names of characters are inspired by the Roman de Thebes ("Romance of Thebes"), a medieval retelling of the ancient mythological tales of Thebes composed around 1150 by a French poet in the court of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. The story of Ipomedon cannot be traced to this, or to the romances of Chrétien de Troyes as argued by Kölbing, or to any other single source. It is essentially a new story, in which the knight Ipomedon, in love with a princess, conceals his identity and serves her as cupbearer. He departs to show his knightly prowess in overseas adventures; returns to take part in a three-day tournament under three different disguises; defends his heroine from three monsters, still disguised; then, finally, reveals his identity and triumphantly marries her. The style is often parodic and burlesque, sometimes also erotic. This is the only known text that provides the Anglo-Norman form of what is now an English four-letter word:

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