I reali di Francia

I reali di Francia is a prose compilation of Charlemagne legends by Andrea da Barberino, an Italian writer active around the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The work, published in 1491, draws heavily from earlier Italian versions of these tales, but Andrea da Barberino significantly expanded upon them with invented pseudohistorical details and exciting amplifications.1

These legends are part of the broader genre known as chansons de geste, which are Old French epic poems centered around Charlemagne and his knights. These stories, popular from the 12th to 15th centuries, often blend historical truth with legendary elements, depicting the struggle of Christian France against its enemies. Andrea da Barberino's work contributed to the enduring popularity of these tales, which formed the basis for later Renaissance epics and even influenced traditions in other cultures.21