L’utilisation du merveilleux par Jean d’Outremeuse : les croisades d’Ogier le Danois
Résumé
The narration of the « crusades » of the epical hero Ogier the Danish appears in the last quart of the XIVth century in John of Outremeuse’s Myreur des Histors and in the version of Liège of John of Mandeville’s Travel. The Myreur relates the world’s history from the Deluge to the XIVth century, with an emphasis on the events of Liège. John of Outremeuse uses epical materials, in particular about Ogier the Danish : he transforms him into a true historical character and makes him the hero civilizer of Liège. When John of Outremeuse writes his Myreur, there already is a literary tradition about Ogier’s eastern travels. But he amplifies it, completing with other legends, about the Priest John, Alexander the Great’s travels, the terrestrial Paradise. Ogier the Danish is educated at Charlemagne’s court. After having undertaken constructions in Liège and Tongres, he joins Charlemagne in his expeditions in Saxony, Italy, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Spain. Then Ogier accomplishes his vow to conquer the Eastern countries over the Saracens. Ogier and his companions subjugate successively Arabia, Samaria, Nubia, Arachosia, Assyria, Media, Palestina and India. John of Outremeuse claims that the description of their travel was inspired by Mandeville’s writings about India where the latter lived for 33 years. This article presents the use and the transformation of the Eastern marvels thematic by Outremeuse. The Myreur and Mandeville’s version of Liège propose an actual political and religious project in the guise of a literary fiction. Beyond the description of marvelous and rich countries, they suggest not only the possibility of reaching them, but also the utopy of their submission by setting up of Western princes and by converting the Muslim peoples to Christianity.
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