<em>Crónica de Flores y Blancaflor</em>: Romance, Conversion, and Internal Orientalism
David A. Wacks
A Mediterranean FictionThe story of Floire et Blancheflor circulated widely in medieval western Europe. It is one a group orientalizing romances, based on Byzantine models, that deal with the confrontation Western Latin Christendom and Muslim East. These narratives, including Blancheflor, Aucassin Nicolette, later Tirant lo Blanc play out anxieties elites over political fate fijictional stories.1 Castilian version, Flores y Blancaflor (fourteenth century), repurposed as foundational narrative meant to link monarchy Carolingian legacy fijictionalize dream fully Christian peninsula. tale northern side Pyrenees an allegory for imperialism becomes Spain more problematic fantasy spiritual hegemony. In this essay I will demonstrate how Cronica de internal-orientalizing boy meets girl legitimize regime Sancho IV while providing happy ending thorny religious problem.The (Floire French) thought be Eastern origin, perhaps Byzantine, Persian, or Arabic. authors begin mention it late twelfth century. earliest fragment early thirteenth-century French manuscript, complete versions appear manuscripts thirteenth century.2 Iberian Peninsula, troubadours starting century, Juan Ruiz references his Libro buen amor middle fourteenth version we discuss here have been composed surviving fourteenth-century manuscript Estoria Espana, begun by Alfonso X The Learned completed son IV. most likely compiler which appears was not at court. Diego Catalan believes him monk writing outside court, such whimsical representation past than counterparts court Castile-Leon (Catalan Estoria, 354).The present interpolated into account history kings Asturias their struggles Umayyad Caliphate Cordova. This episode very important chroniclers because demonstrates continuity Asturian kings, who are credited fijirst signifijicant military incursions against Caliphate. way connect campaigns Cordova contemporary Nasrid Granada. sort propagandistic historiography peculiar Espana. What noteworthy about places entirely service royal history, specifijically order underscore image both conquerors al-Andalus, legitimate heirs Charlemagne, whose al-Andalus took place when Blancafor set.A Political FictionIn Blancaflor, countess third trimester her pregnancy pilgrimage Santiago Compostela raiders from attack entourage. She taken captive brought King Fines, king Almeria. so happens Fines's wife also pregnant; she give birth same day, two children, boy, Flores, girl, nursed raised together court.3 Eventually they fall love. separate two, Fines sends away Seville, then sells slavery fakes death. …
Narrative culture|Humanities Commons CORE (Modern Language Association / Columbia University)