Hugh of Rhuddlan (Anglo-Norman: Hue de Rotelande)[1] was an important Cambro-Norman poet writing in the Anglo-Norman language at the end of the 12th century. He has been described as one of 'Angevin England’s most mercurial literary figures'.[2]

Hugh of Rhuddlan
Occupations
  • Poet
  • Cleric
Years activeLate 12th century

Life edit

Hugh was a cleric and a native of Rhuddlan. He wrote in Credenhill, Herefordshire.[3] Gilbert de Monmouth Fitz Baderon, a grandson of Gilbert Fitz Richard, was his patron.

Works edit

His works are Ipomedon[4] and Protheselaus, two long metrical romances from the 1180s of over 10,000 lines, in octosyllables. The names, at least, were from the mid-century Le Roman de Thèbes; the romances are set in Italy. Protheselaus has been poorly regarded for its lack of narrative. The story describes the heroes journeys after hearing that Medea had rejected him as an admirer. He risks death, serves at the court of Medea and in imprisoned, but he is eventually reunited with Medea and they marry.[5]

Several Middle English translations (Ipomadon, cited as Ippomedon in Thomas Warton, The History of English Poetry) were made.[6]

A sixteenth century translation The Life of Ipomydon was made by Robert Copland and printed by Wynkyn de Worde.[7][8]

References edit

  • Article Hue de Rotelande by Keith Busby, p. 461 in Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, editor William Westcott Kibler
  • Eugen Kölbing (1889), Ipomedon, in drei Englischen Bearbeitungen
  • Franz Kluckow (1924), Hue de Rotelande: Protheselaus
  • A. J. Holden (1979), Ipomedon: poème de Hue de Rotelande, fin du XIIe siècle
  • A. J. Holden editor, Protheselaus by Hue de Rotelande Anglo-Norman Text Society
  • Rhiannon Purdie, editor (2001), Ipomadon

Notes edit

  1. ^ Alternatively Hugues de Rotelande, Huon de Rotelande, Hugues de Rutland, Hugh de Rutland, Hugh of Rutland.
  2. ^ Cartlidge, Neil (2011). "Masters in the art of lying? The literary relationship between Hugh of Rhuddlan and Walter Map". The Modern Language Review. 106 (1): 1. doi:10.5699/modelangrevi.106.1.0001. JSTOR 10.5699/modelangrevi.106.1.0001.
  3. ^ William Calin, The Exaltation and Undermining of Romance: Ipomedon, in The Legacy of Chrétien de Troyes, edited by Norris J. Lacy, Douglas Kelly, Keith Busby.
  4. ^ Holden, A. J., ed. (1979). Ipomedon: poème de Hue de Rotelande (fin du XIIᵉ siècle). Bibliothèque française et romane. Sér. B, Éditions critiques de textes (in French). Paris: Klincksieck. ISBN 978-2-252-01907-8.
  5. ^ Spensley, R. M. (1972). "Form and meaning in Hue de Rotelande's Protheselaus". The Modern Language Review. 67 (4): 763–774. doi:10.2307/3724495. ISSN 0026-7937. JSTOR 3724495.
  6. ^ Sánchez-Martí, Jordi (2006). "Reconstructing the audiences of the Middle English versions of Ipomedon". Studies in Philology. 103 (2): 153–177. ISSN 0039-3738. JSTOR 4174844.
  7. ^ Sánchez-Martí, Jordi (2005). "Wynkyn de Worde's editions of Ipomydon: A reassessment of the evidence". Neophilologus. 89 (1): 153–163. doi:10.1007/s11061-004-5673-9. ISSN 0028-2677.
  8. ^ online text

External links edit