Wigalois is a courtly romance of the Arthurian cycle set down in Middle High German verse by Wirnt von Grafenberg. The title character Wigalois becomes a knight of the Round Table, but he remains not knowing he is the son of Sir Gawain (here Gawein) whom he meets, having spent an upbringing entirely in the care of his mother's royal family, in the otherworldly kingdom, which became undiscoverable to Gawain once he left. The work, written between 1204 and 1220, enjoyed enormous popularity in the Middle Ages, and was printed in Volksbuch (chapbook) format into the early modern period.
The young hero accepts his first adventure and main quest when a female messenger arrives in court (with a dwarf), seeking help for her mistress. The damsel is angered that such an untested novice had been recruited, until the young hero proves his prowess through five side-quest adventures: dispatching a tally of four knights and two giants in the process. The group reaches the castle of Roimunt, which is where the messenger's master, the widowed Queen abides, her husband killed and the rest of the kingdom of Korntin overrun by the heathen lord Roaz of Glois, in league with the devil. Wigalois's quest is now clarified as one of eradicating Roaz and restoring the kingdom, upon which the champion will be recognized as the king, taking princess Larie in marriage (the couple are already in love with each other the first they meet). Wigalois, endowed with a scripted paper amulet for his sword and strength-restoring bread, enters Korntin castle guided by a mysterious beast—a crowned deer-leopard hybrid— who turns out to be the slain King Lar, who reveals to Wigalois his parentage, supplying him with more magic items (protective flower and angel's spear) to first defeat a dragon. Wigalois vanquishes the dragon but is gravely wounded, and a fisherman and his wife rob his armor. He continues on and faces more adversaries, a monstrous forest woman and a powerful heathen dwarf Karrioz. He enters Glois castle after his prayer causes the bladed water-wheel to stop rotating at the gate, and he kills a centaur, two guards, and finally Roaz himself. Wigalois marries Larie in the presence of the Arthurian knights and many guests. There is a further adventure that Wigalois takes up jointly with his father Gawain, avenging the murder of King Amire of Libia (who had been a wedding guest,); the king was murdered by Lion of Namur, who was enamored of the queen; the murder is avenged by Gawein (though Wigalois also took part, since the widowed queen was also second cousin to his bride Larie). Father, son and bride visit Arthur's court, though news arrives during the trip that Wigalois's mother Florie has died. After spending their years back in Korntin, the Wigalois couple have a son, whose fame was also renowned according to the author.
Contents
Etymology
The name Wigalois is explained in the work as meaning Guy of Wales, and possibly adapted from Old French Gui li Galois, though it may also be a (possibly deliberate) corruption of the name Guinglain[s] for Gawain's son in Old French literature.
Dates and composition
Wigalois written c. 1204–1220 in 11,708 lines of rhymed couplets. There have survived 13 complete manuscripts and 28 fragments, the earliest of which date to c. 1220–1230.
The work was probably written under the patronage of the Princes of Andechs-Merania (Berthold IV of Andechs, d. 1204 and his son Otto, d. 1234). The work is written under the pretense that it was a tale told to him by a squire.
A strophic revision under the title Wigelis by Dietrich von Hopfgarten dating to 1455 only survived in fragments. Later, a prose redaction Wigoleis vom Rade appeared (composed 1472–1483, first printed 1493 in Volksbuch/chapbook format by Johann Schönsperger in Augsburg). This has been adapted into Danish as Viegoleis med Guld Hiulet (1656) and then secondhand into Icelandic as Gabons saga ok Vigoles (from the Danish, 1656–1683, another version in 18th century ms.) Just a few years after the 1493 prose appeared, another strophic retelling Floreis und Wigoleis was composed by Ulrich Füetrer and added to his Buch der Abenteuer.
A Yiddish rendition Viduvilt/Widuwilt (also called Artushof) was also composed in the 16th century, extant in three manuscripts. This was later translated sloppily into High German, and became the basis of a satirical prose Vom König Artus und von dem bildschönen Ritter Wieduwilt. Ein Ammenmärchen (pub. Leipzig, 1786).
Manuscripts
The oldest fragments have been dated to 1220–30, and are written in the Austro-Bavarian dialect. Of particular interest are the only two fully illustrated manuscripts known to have survived: Manuscript B (Amelungsborn, 1372, now in the Leiden University Library collection, LTK 537), which contains 47 miniature paintings of scenes from the work, and Manuscript k (1420–1430, Baden State Library, codex Donaueschingen 71), with 31 images by the illuminators of Diebold Lauber's workshop in Hagenau, Alsace or perhaps more likely, the so-called Alsatian workshop of 1418.
The complete manuscripts are as follows:
A: Köln, Historical Archive of the City of Cologne, Best. 7020 (W*) 6
Paper, first half of 13th century
L: Bremen, Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek, msb 0042
Paper, 1356
C: Stuttgart, Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Cod. HB XIII 5
Illuminated parchment, c. 1360–1370. Scribe at Amelungsborn Abbey is possibly the illuminator.
B: Leiden, Leiden University Library, LTK 537
Illuminated parchment, 1372
k: (Formerly) Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek, Cod. Don. 71
Illuminated parchment, c. 1420.
l: Schwerin, Landesbibliothek
Paper, c. 1435–1440
N: Hamburg, State and University Library, Cod. germ. 6
Plotline and structure
Prologue
Some―but not all―versions of Wigalois contain a prologue (vv. 1-144) in which the author asks his readers for leniency with the work, and by their goodwill tor recognize him more as a novice rather than a master far experienced in his craft.
The first 13 lines of the 144 verses of prologue are:
Prehistory
There follows a "Prehistory" portion (vv. 145–1219) where the titular hero (Wigalois, Gwigalois, etc.) is not yet born, but the circumstances of his conception is elaborated. (Wigalois was fathered by Gawein on Florie, the royal niece, while staying in King Joram's realm:
A mysterious knight (actually King Joram, who is to become the title hero's grandfather) had shown up in Arthur's Court at Karidol/Caridoel offering Queen Ginovere (Guinevere) a magic belt, but being refused, he challenges all the knights to combat, offering the belt as prize. Joram defeats everyone, including Gawain. However, Joram concedes he was only able to defeat Gawain by using the magic stone-encrusted belt, which he refrained from using against the other opponents, thus Gawain is deemed champion despite defeat. Gawain is taken back as prisoner to the realm of King Joram, who now discloses his identity and offers his niece Florie's hand in marriage. After several months, Gawain yearns to see his companions and sneaks off to Caridoel, but the trip back takes six months, despite it only being a 12 day's journey to the realm with Joram guiding. Gawain tries to find his way back to his pregnant wife, but eventually gives up. The unborn child of course, is Wigalois.
Due to its unreachability by outsiders, Wigalois's birthplace is characterized as Otherworldly realm or even "fairyland" by some, but it has been emphasized tha Florie is not a fay, but a princess of Syria.
When Joram had appeared incognito at Arthur's court, he identified himself as ambassador of Diu sælde/Frau Saelde (Fortuna, Lady Luck) The kingdom is under the protection of Fortuna, and its fortress displays an artwork replica of the Wheel of Fortune (Middle High German: gelückes rat). Wigalois is "The Knight of the Wheel of Fortune"(Ritter mit dem Rade,). Later in his first adventure, Wigalois is equipped with the shield-crest depicting the Wheel ("coal-black shield that was embossed in the middle with a golden wheel, the device by which he wished to be known"). Cf. images at top for the miniature paintings from mss. k and B.
Joram's magic belt ("Fortuna's belt") was passed on to Gawein, Gawein forgets the belt when he leaves his wife's kingdom, and when Wigalois comes of age and decides to leave, his mother gives him the same belt as memento of his father.
Main narrative
Johannes Marie Neele Kapteyn's edition (1926) provideds a detailed summary of the work with line numbers.
Later commentators giving briefer summaries have divided the work into four narrative blocks or phases (though their demarcations are somewhat different), e.g., translator J. W. Thomas (1977), Ingeborg Henderson (1986), Hans-Jochen Schiewer (1993), and James H. Brown (2015).
The author takes pains to describe the heraldic coat of arms of various characters, and these are illustrated by the miniature painters as well.
The first narrative phase tells of the protagonist's parental history (§ Prehistory above, vv. 145–1219), his fatherless upbringing (vv. 1220–1272), taking his departure from home at age 20 in search of his father (Vatersuche) taking the heirloom magic belt (vv. 1273–1410), his arrival and training as squire at Arthur's court and sitting on the stone of virtue proving his merit (vv. 1411–1563), receiving the accolade of knighthood in a solemn ceremony (vv. 1622–1716), his accepting the first adventure as a Knight of the Round, and leaving the court to accomplish it (vv. 1717–1883).
When the maiden (Nereja) arrives as messenger to Arthur's court, seeking help (vv. 1717–1769) for her mistress (Queen Amena, mother of Princess Larie). Wigalois volunteers to take up the adventure and King Arthur reluctantly consents (vv. 1770–1811). The choice of the inexperienced knight enrages Nereja, who bolts off (vv. 1770–1811). Wigalois is suited up in full panoply, including the golden wheel-blazoned shield and likewise crested helm, pieces he chose because they reminded him of his homeland. He now leaves to pursue Nereja (vv. 1812–1883).
The second phase describes a series of ordeals that the hero must endure while accompanying Nereja to the castle of Roimunt where the Queen (and Princess) await. Wigalois catches up, and with the counsel of Nereja's dwarf, they travel together (vv. 1884–1927). They group asks for lodging at a castle, but the lord of the castle only grants shelter to a knight who defeats him in combat, with the loss of the knight's armor at stake. Wigalois unintentionally kills the castellan in combat and they flee (vv. 1928–2013). Next, he rescues a lady from Arthur's court abducted by two giants, killing one then defeating the other swinging a tree-bough as weapon, compelling him to escort her back (vv. 2014–2183). The hero finds a puppy and gives it to Nereja; the owner demands it back, and when refused, returns fully armed for a fight (coat of arms: swan), but defeated and killed by Wigalois (vv. 2184–2348).
Question of source
Only a certain portion of Wigalois (vv. 1530– 3150, the second narrative block) is based on the corresponding French poem Le Bel Inconnu (6266 verses; one manuscript; end of the 12th century). As for some of the rest, Wirnt may quite conceivably have crafted episodes based on historical events. The Arthurian epic Le Chevalier au papegau (15th cent.) resembles Wigalois, but it is thought that the French work probably borrowed the material and not the other way around. It remains possible that Wirnt may also have made a pastiche of various French texts.
Wirnt in the epilogue of the Wigalois claims he owes the narrated story solely to the oral tale collected from a squire (11686ff.), but this was probably a fictive device to grant himself pretext to diverge from relating the story in a conservative fashion that the genre demanded.
A number of modern commentators such as Georg Friedrich Benecke have regarded Wirnt as imitator (epigone) of Wolfram von Eschenbach (author of Parzival) and Hartmann von Aue, and Richard Barber writes that Wigalois was based on these two authors, carrying on the moral compass of the latter but handled with less skill.
Literary analysis
In the beginning of the romance, the motif experienced by Sir Gawain of leaving his sweetheart's homeland, never to find it again, is paralleled by the German short story Germelshausen (1860) and the musical Brigadoon (1947).
As for the stone of virtue test which Wigalois passes, a similar Ehrenstein ("stone of honor"; Middle High German: der êren steine) occurs in Lanzelet v. 5177, and a similar test for women (mantle of chastity) in Lanzelet vv. 5835–6140.
Wigalois earns the moniker Knight of the Wheel, since he chose his heraldic device from the Wheel of Fortune found in his mother's castle, as already described above (§ Fortuna and the Wheel), and he is under the protection of Lady Fortune (Diu sælde; Frau Saelde). Wigalois's bride to be Larie is also repeatedly referenced as being Dame Fortune's toything or pleasure (sældes spil)
There is the recurrent motif of the Christians defeating the heathens, and their ordeals are contextualized as a proxy battle between Heaven and hell, as aforementioned. There is much that is borrowed from the Revelation of John, and the apostle John (Johannes) is specifically invoked by the author at vv. 10275–305, where the narrator Wirnt engages in some eschatological preaching.
The stronghold of Roaz, the devil's minion, is depicted with imagery borrowed from John's visions, as analyzed by translator J. W. Thomas. Roaz's castle at Glois is surrounded by an almost miasmic mist produced by the nearby swamps, reminiscent of the smoke that obscured the sun and the moon and which summoned the plague of locusts, as according to Revelation 9:2–3. The locusts of Revelation are "hybrid" (composite) creatures, which are like warhorses, but with human faces and lion's teeth, and breastplate (Revelation 9:12), this together with the fire-breathing horses of the Apocalypse (Revelation 9:17) seems to have inspired the imagery of the centaur in the castle of Glois, which was dog-headed, covered in hard scales, threw fire from a pot, and withdrew into the pitch-like fog.
Joachim Bumke uses this early dated romance as a historical resource to reconstruct the particulars of courtly manners, rites, and costumes. For instance, the knighting ceremony, the buhurt (horsemanship games, as opposed to the tournament involving swords and lances) held in honor of Larie. Attention has also been paid to the moon and stars decorated fish-skin mantle worn by Florie which is specifically addressed in the work as being "courtly"; Bumke has compared it to the zodiac motif mantle actually worn by the Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1024).
Reception
The Wigalois is also mentioned in several other Middle High German poems, e.g., Diu Crône by Heinrich von dem Türlin and Der Renner by Hugo von Trimberg. In Konrad von Würzburg's Der Welt Lohn. Wigalois is also mentioned in religious-didactic literature of the Middle Ages, for example, in the Amorbach Cato (Disticha Catonis).
In art
The arched hall of the so-called summer house at Runkelstein Castle was painted c. 1400 with scenes from the Wigalois, commissioned by Niklaus Vintler and his brother Franz. The wall paintings are executed using terra verde pigments and are connected to other illustrations of literary works such as Tristan and Isolde from the same period in this castle.