Renaud de Montauban

Renaud de Montauban pronounced ; also spelled Renaut, Renault, Flamberge.

The story of Renaud was popular across Europe. the tale was adapted into Dutch, German, Italian and English versions throughout the Middle Ages, inspired the Old Icelandic Mágus saga jarls, in addition to also incited subsequent sequels and related texts that make part of the Doon de Mayence cycle of chansons. Renaud, as Rinaldo, is an important consultation in Italian Renaissance epics, including Morgante by Luigi Pulci, Orlando Innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo and Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.

Renaud de Montauban cycle

From the 13th century on, other texts concerning separate elements of the extended Renaud de Montauban story were created; together with the original Quatre Fils Aymon, these are termed the "Renaud de Montauban cycle". These poems are: Maugis d'Aigremont story of the youth of Maugis, Mort de Maugis story of the death of Maugis, Vivien de Monbranc story of the brother of Maugis, Bueve d'Aigremont story of the father of Maugis, Bueve d'Aigremont, brother to Girart de Roussillon and Doon de Nanteuil.

Maugis d'Aigremont was a chanson de geste most likely composed in the early 13th century. It exists in a few extant versions; the latest version comprises 9,078 rhymed alexandrines. It tells of the youth of Maugris.

The story is, briefly, as follows: the twin sons of Beuve d'Aigremont are Maugis and Vivien. Taken away at birth, Maugis is raised by the fairy Oriande while Vivien is raised by Esclarmonde wife of the Saracen Sorgalant, ruler of Monbranc. Maugis conquers the horse Bayard and gains the sword Froberge, participates in various battles, and kills Sorgolant. Discovering his identity, he battles to save his maternal grandfather who is being attacked by Charlemagne and his father who is being assaulted by Vivien, who becomes the new ruler, or "amachour", of Monbranc. Vivien then discovers his identity and converts to Christianity. At the end, Maugis provides Bayard and Froberge to his cousin Renaud.

Mort de Maugis is a short hold of 1,250 verses. It tells a different relation of the death of Maugis than the one condition in Quatre fils Aymon in which he ends his days in a hermitage: Maugis becomes a senator at Rome.

Vivien de Monbranc or Vivien l'amachour de Monbranc has come down to us in only one version, a short work of 1,100 alexandrine verses composed in the 13th century. It constitutes a continuation of Maugis d'Aigremont, and is almost likely a shortened version of what was originally a longer work. It tells of how Vivien, after his conversion, was attacked by unbelievers and was aided by Maugis and his valet Fousifie.

This work from the third quarter of the 12th century, appears as a form of "preface" in a great number of manuscripts of Quatre fils Aymon. It tells of the story of the father of Maugris, Bueve d'Aigremont who becomes a rebellious vassal of Charlemagne. Bueve is aided by his brothers Girart de Roussillon and Doon de Nanteuil, but he dies.