Novel of Cavalry: Origin, Characteristics, Authors and Main Works

The cavalry novel is a literary genre written in prose, very popular in the Renaissance, in which stories of adventures of imaginary knights are told who dedicate their lives to fight for just causes. This genre originated in France but was more popular in Spain.

It also spread to England, Portugal and Italy, but in these countries it did not have the popularity nor the development it had in the Iberian Peninsula. Stories of chivalric heroism and gallantry were an important element of Middle Ages literature throughout Europe.

The change in the world view brought by the Renaissance diminished its popularity. However, in the Spain of the late fifteenth century the cavalry novel gained strength with the publication of the revised version of the work Amadís de Gaula by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo in 1508.

This story had previously been published in the Middle Ages without the success it had in the Renaissance. The invention and dissemination of the printing press at the end of the 15th century made mass production possible.

Origin

In its beginnings, European royal courts were entertained with stories of Platonic loves of frequently fictitious couples. This type of literature was known as courtly romance.

In addition, the warrior values ​​of the time and necessary for the maintenance of the reigns were the subject of stories. In these were praised the warrior values ​​of courage, courage and loyalty.

From the Middle Ages both types of stories were mixed giving rise to the figure of the knight errant, central point of the cavalry novels. Then, the genre of the chivalric novel spread throughout Europe; nevertheless, in Spain it was where it became more intense.

Cycles of the cavalry novel in Spain

During its development, the Spanish cavalry novels of the Middle Ages went through four periods. The first was the Carolingian cycle, which was characterized by having Charlemagne at the center of the stories.

Then followed the Arthurian or Breton cycle, with the legends of King Arthur and the knights of the round table, and then came the cycle of antiquity, which told stories about classic legends, such as the siege and the destruction of Troy.

Finally, the cavalry stories experienced the cycle of the crusades, in which they dealt with events, real or imagined, of the great crusades.

Renaissance

This transit of the genre through these four cycles made the novel of chivalry in the taste of readers. This allowed him to survive the end of the Middle Ages and persist in the Renaissance.

In that period the romances of the cavalry became very popular, and even accompanied the conquerors in their adventures in the New World.

By royal orders they were forbidden in the Spanish colonies in America, but they were the favorite reading of the Spanish conquerors, and for that reason they were exported in large quantities (sometimes contraband).

characteristics

Focus on the feats and not on the protagonists

The protagonists of these stories are presented with flat personalities, without nuances. On the other hand, his exploits are the core of the story.

On the other hand, the details abound in the narrative and it is pursued to conform a moral standard that serves as an example.

Open and flexible structures

The extension of the books is considerable, some even formed collections. The stories were intertwined and never quite finished, always leaving the possibility of a sequel to the author's liking.

Tests and rewards

Knights are subjected to tests in which they must convey honor and courage. They must show their mettle even if they lose the battles.

In the end, after overcoming multiple tests, the protagonist's reward is glory and, in many cases, love.

Idealized love

The stories present pure and exaggerated loves. Sometimes romances are presented outside of marriage and with illegitimate children. Happy endings that ended in marriage were also very common.

War context

The context of the novels is war, which makes possible the demonstrations of value of the protagonists and their capacity with weapons. The rivals are of such a category that their defeat enhances the knights.

Heroes of noble origin

Very often the heroes are illegitimate children of unknown noble parents and, sometimes, of kings. The stories present situations in which the hero must show that he deserves the surname.

Very often the hero receives help from sorcerers, supernatural powers, potions and magic swords.

Fictional scenarios

The geography of the scenarios is unreal and fabulous. The lands of enchanted lakes, haunted jungles, sumptuous palaces and mysterious ships are common places.

Authors and main works

Ferrand Martínez (14th century)

Ferrand Martínez was a clergyman of Toledo and standard bearer of King Alfonso X. Martinez is credited with the authorship of the work entitled Romance of the knight Zifar . This literary piece was written around the year 1300.

It is considered one of the oldest Renaissance manuscripts of the Spanish cavalry novel. Tells the story of Zifar who, with Christian faith and tenacity, overcomes obstacles in his life and becomes king.

Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo (1450-1504)

Rodríguez de Montalvo organized the modern version of the cavalry novel Amadís de Gaula . The first three volumes of this work of chivalric romance of anonymous authorship had been written in the fourteenth century.

Montalvo added a fourth book of his own and made amendments to the first three. He baptized the sequel added with the name of The serpas de Esplandián (The exploits of Esplandián or The adventures of Esplandián).

Joanot Martorell (15th century)

This Valencian writer (Spain) was born in the first half of the 15th century and was the first author of the chivalric romance Tirant lo Blanch . Martorell began writing this work in Catalan on January 2, 1460, but could not finish it.

Martí Joan de Galba (-1490)

Martí Joan de Galba was a Spanish writer who was born in the early fifteenth century. He has the distinction of having been the one who continued and finished the famous cavalry novel Tirant lo Blanch .

Francisco de Moraes Cabral (1500-1572)

Francisco de Morais Cabral was a Portuguese writer born in Bragança who served as personal secretary of the Portuguese ambassador in France.

During two trips to Paris (1540 and 1546) he composed a chivalrous romance called Palmerín d'Angleterre (Palmerín of England). This was a version of the popular saga Amadís de Gaula .

References

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