Garci Ordóñez Rodríguez de Montalvo

Garci Ordóñez de Montalvo was a Spanish writer best known for his 1508 prose romance of chivalry, Amadís of Gaul. Montalvo claimed to have corrected and emended earlier versions of the work, which may have circulated as early as the late 13th century.12

In Montalvo's version, Amadís is depicted as the most handsome, upright, and valiant knight, whose undefeated feats of arms are intertwined with his love for Oriana, the daughter of King Lisuarte of England. The Amadís was Arthurian in spirit but differed by presenting a more idealized hero and emphasizing the authority of the monarchy, foreshadowing absolutism. The work achieved great popularity across Europe and was parodied by Miguel de Cervantes in Don Quixote.12