Robert le Diable

"Robert le Diable" is a medieval romance about the legendary son of a duke of Normandy, whose birth was attributed to a pact with the devil. This character is depicted as possessing immense strength, which he initially uses for criminal acts. The legend details his journey of redemption, guided by a holy hermit, through acts of extreme self-denial and feigned madness, including maintaining absolute silence and enduring ill-treatment without retaliation.1

Later versions of the legend see him serving as a court fool before being divinely inspired to defend Rome from Saracen attacks while disguised as an unknown knight. His identity is eventually revealed by the emperor's daughter, but he rejects her hand and retires to a hermitage. This narrative exists in various forms, including late 12th-century romances and 14th-century poems, and notably inspired the libretto for Giacomo Meyerbeer's 19th-century opera.1