This paper manuscript contains the prose version of the heroic epic
Fierabras by Jean Bagnyon (1412-1497). As a lawyer in Lausanne, he
wrote this adaptation around 1465-1470 at the request of Henri
Bolomier, Canon of that same city (f. 117v). Divided into three
books, the work begins with an outline of the history of the kings
of France up to Charlemagne (Book I: f. 7v-19r), followed by the
history of the “merveilleux et terrible“ giant Fierabras (Book
II: f. 19v-93v), and a story about the Spanish War according to
Turpin (Book III: f. 94r-117v). This copy and the Bibliothèque de
Genève’s copy (Ms. fr. 188) are the only two handwritten
witnesses of this text, which experienced great success in print
from the 15th century onward (1st printed edition by Adam
Steinschaber in Geneva in 1478).
Rights
e-codices - Virtual Manuscript Library of Switzerland
