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Unidentified Middle Dutch chivalric romance

F-xzix

Antwerpen, Universiteitsbibliotheek Antwerpen Bijzondere Collecties, MAG-P 64.87

Laurent Breeus-Loos, University of Antwerp, 2024 (Born Digital)

Remarks by the Editor

The description of the content is based on the information from the online catalogue of the University Library of Antwerp.

General Information

Title Unidentified Middle Dutch Chivalric Romance
Shelfmarks Antwerpen, Universiteitsbibliotheek Antwerpen Bijzondere Collecties, MAG-P 64.87
Material parchment
Place of Origin Low Countries
Date of Origin second or third quarter of the 14th century
Script, Hands

Northern gothic textualis libraria. Descenders of the letter 'h' (usually) extend far beyond the baseline, and finish in a typical pointed stroke. 

Original Condition

Page Height at least 273 mm
Page Width at least 164 mm
Height of Written Area 225 mm
Width of Columns at least 40 mm
Number of Lines 42
Line Height 5 – 6 mm
Ruling no ruling visible (probably lead-point)
More about the Condition

The minimum width of the original manuscript was estimated on the basis of a minimum aspect ratio of 0.6.

Current Condition

Extent 1 strip (part of a leaf)
Dimensions 272-273 x 58-59 mm

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

Plain initial (red)

Content

  • Content Item
    • Text Language Middle Dutch
    • Title Unidentified Middle Dutch chivalric romance
    • Content Description

      Unidentified fragment from a Middle Dutch chivalric romance in rhymed couplets. The proper names names that are mentioned in the text (Karel, Baudet, Fromont/Vromont, Baldijn, Effrage, Fodaer, and Tyba(u)[t]) suggest that the text belonged to the epic genre of Charlemaine stories.

      In column 1rb, a character that is possibly Baudet addresses a whole group. The speaker refers to (his?) brothers (43, 58), his father, and a sister (46), and then also to Karel and possibly his father (52). It seems that what he says is about loyalty to the lineage (cf. 48) of Karel and of hatred (cf. 49) towards others. Then Baudet sees Fromont and calls out to him (56), apparently referring to his brothers. Subsequently, a fierce battle erupts, apparently between Baudet and Fromont, which seems to end badly for Fromont. Someone wields the sword Fodaer (it is also possible a character called Fodaer is struck by a sword). Again, much strife. Then Tyba[ut] also joins the fray (149), which has consequences for Effrage (167). Passages in the authorial voice are interspersed with direct speech (compare 'ghi', 162).
    • fol. 1r

History

Persons and Institutions On 14 December 2022 this fragment was auctioned at Christie's auction house (London). Head librarian Rik Van Daele (UAntwerp), Professor Remco Sleiderink (UAntwerp), and private collector Marcus de Schepper purchased the fragment on behalf of the Special Collections of the University Library of Antwerp. They received financial support from private collector Farley Katz, who had previously (in 2019 and 2022) donated medieval fragments to the Special Collections (MAG-P 64.19; MAG-P 12.2732).
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