Roman d’Alexandre

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July 13, 2026

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The Roman d'Alexandre is a 12th-century collection of romances about the adventures of Alexander the Great. These stories originated from a Greek epic written in the 2nd century AD, which portrayed Alexander as a heroic figure with magical elements. Over time, the legends expanded, incorporating tales of Gog and Magog and influencing literature across various cultures, including Persian, Arabic, and Slavic languages. The Roman d'Alexandre itself inspired later works and contributed to the development of the alexandrine verse form in French poetry, characterized by a 12-syllable line. While historical accounts eventually superseded these romances, they played a significant role in shaping medieval literature and legend.12

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romance
The marvellous
The great 12th-century Roman d’Alexandre, a roman d’antiquité based on and developing the early Greek romance of Alexander the Great (the Alexander romance), was begun in the first years of the century by Alberic de Briançon and later continued by other poets. It introduces fantastic elements, more especially…
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The great 12th-century Roman d’Alexandre, a roman d’antiquité based on and developing the early Greek romance of Alexander the Great (the Alexander romance), was begun in the first years of the century by Alberic de Briançon and later continued by other poets. It introduces fantastic elements, more especially…
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alexandrine
…the verse in the French Roman d’Alexandre, a collection of romances that was compiled in the 12th century about the adventures of Alexander the Great. Revived in the 16th century by the poets of La Pléiade, especially Pierre de Ronsard, the alexandrine became, in the following century, the preeminent French…
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…the verse in the French Roman d’Alexandre, a collection of romances that was compiled in the 12th century about the adventures of Alexander the Great. Revived in the 16th century by the poets of La Pléiade, especially Pierre de Ronsard, the alexandrine became, in the following century, the preeminent French…
Read More