Vestnik Pravoslavnogo Svâto-Tihonovskogo Gumanitarnogo Universiteta: Seriâ III. Filologiâ (Dec 2022)
Russian chronicles and West European chivalric epics: two possible comparisons
Abstract
The article is devoted to the comparison of accounts of Russian chronicles of the pre-Mongol time and episodes from the West-European chivalrous epic. Two parallel plots are considered, in which the author sees certain similarities. First, an account of the Novgorod First Chronicle on the conflict in Novgorod in 1015, in the course of which some noble Novgorodians were killed on the order of Prince Yaroslav, and an episode from "The Song of Roland", which refers to an attempt of barons of Charlemagne to intercede for the traitor Ganelon. It is concluded that both stories are based on similar ideas. Both the words of Yaroslav in the chronicle and those of the barons in "The Song of Roland" point, first of all, not to the promise of real reward, but to the medieval warrior ethic, according to which real live soldiers were more important than regrets about losses. If losses nevertheless occurred, they still cannot be fully compensated by money, treasure, or property. Second, I compare a fragment from the Hypatian Chronicle on the Prince Igor's campaign against the Polovtsians with some scenes from Thomas Malory's "Le MorteDarthur". It turns out that they present a similar arrogant attitude of a part of the military elite (prince's retinue, knights) towards ordinary infantrymen.
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