Besides the earliest sporadic mention in
Chanson de Roland, a full career of Ogier from youth to death is treated in
La Chevalerie Ogier de Danemarche, a 13th-century
assonanced poem of approximately 13,000 lines, attributed to Raimbert de Paris, preserved in six manuscripts. It relates Ogier's early years, his rebellion against Charlemagne and eventual reconciliation.). This is how the story culminates in ''Roman d'Ogier
, a reworking in s written in the 14th century, as well as its prose redaction retitled Ogier le Danois
(Ogyer le Danois
) printed in a number of editions from the late 15th century onwards. that Ogier the Dane has first appeared in the Arthurian context as the Saxon prince Oriolz the Dane (de Danemarche), sometimes known as the Red Knight, in the 13th-century Vulgate Merlin
and its English adaptation Arthour and Merlin''. There are also several texts that might be classed as "histories" which refer to Ogier. Girart d'Amiens'
Charlemagne contains a variant of Ogier's
enfances.
Philippe Mouskes's
Chronique rimée (c. 1243) writes on Ogier's death.
Jean d'Outremeuse's
Ly Myreur des Histors writes of Ogier's combat with the
capalus (
chapalu), which is a giant cat monster known from the Arthurian cycle.
Horses and equipment Broiefort In
Chevalerie Ogier, Ogier wins the horse Broiefort and a young foal with its teeth shed (and regrown) four times over. In the combat, he is provided with the sword Corte/Cortain by Caraheu. Brunamont also owned
Nebuchadnezzar's helmet or sword (sword owned by ) according to variant mss. of
Chevalerie Ogier. Years later, Ogier is brought out of confinement, when a fresh Saracen wave of attack requires his help. Turpin had secreted away his weapons and equipment, but did not grasp the whereabouts of Broiefort, and subsequently, Charlemagne's horse (one given him by Balant,≈Blanchart[?]) and also Didier's Pennevaire were tested, but none could withstand the weight of Ogier. But Broiefort had been kept at the monastery of St. Faro (), and horse and master are reunited.
Baucent Baucent or Bauçant is the horse which Ogier conquers from Brehier/Braiher/Bréhus of Africa after defeating him in a decisive duel. Ogier loses his old horse Broiefort in the process, but now gains a new warhorse (cf. ). The name means "black and white" or "
piebald". Bulfinch's retelling mistakenly transposes the name Marchevallee here, which is in concert with Tressan who replaces the horse's name with but this is a mistake. As discussed below, is a horse won from a different character called Nordin, sultan of
Babylone (Cairo), as recounted in what used to be called the
chanson de geste fragment . When Ogier negotiates to engage in a close fight with the enemy Saracen leader Florion (and the amiral of
Nubia), they stipulate that Ogier cannot ride the wicked horse Papillon for the contest. Ogier attempts to comply by riding Blanchard, but Papillon will not have it, and strangles the royal white horse to take its place, having changed color from black to white to deceive everyone about the switch.
Legend at Meaux A legend of
Conversio Othgeri militis was invented by the monks at the at
Meaux around 1070–1080. It claimed Othgerius Francus ("Frankish") to be the most illustrious member of Charlemagne's court after the king himself, thus making him identifiable with Ogier the Dane. He was buried in the abbey in a mausoleum built for him. His remains were placed in a
sarcophagus lidded with his recumbent
tomb effigy lying next to that of Saint Benedictus, and the chamber was enshrined with erect statues of various figures from the
Charlemagne Cycle. This stone head can still be viewed today. This document was first commented on by
Jean Mabillon in his
Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti, printed editions of which include a detailed illustration of the mausoleum at St. Faro. The statues at the mausoleum even included
la belle Aude, affianced to Roland, That mausoleum is no longer preserved, but an illustration of the interior was printed in editions of Mabillon's
Acta Sanctorum Ordinis S. Benedicti.
Chevalerie Ogier Ogier is the main character in the poem
La Chevalerie Ogier de Danemarche (written –1215). The work consists of twelve parts (or "branches") of varying lengths. Attributed to Raimbert de Paris, in assonant
decasyllabic, edited by Barrois (1842) in 13,058 verses,/Godfrey/Gaufroi but as the king holds court at
Saint-Omer at Easter, his envoys return from Godefroy with shaven moustaches and beards. Charles vows revenge (vv. 7–25) and confines Ogier to a castle-fort, but there he becomes intimate with the castellan's daughter, who bears him a son, named Baldwinet (, dim. of ). The poem predicts this child is destined to be killed using by Prince Charlot, alluding to the cause of later rift between Charlemagne and the grieving Ogier (vv. 26–90). Back in the palace, Charlemagne summons the castellan to bring Ogier, and vows to have Ogier dismembered in revenge of the ambassadors, and Ogier blames his father Godefroy and stepmother Belissent for his woes (vv. 100–117). Ogier pleads innocence (vv. 118–122), but the vassals' support (vv. 124–155) and the queen's (v. 156) are to no avail. When Charles (Charlemagne), at the Pope's request, launches a war campaign against Saracens invading Rome, Ogier is there initially as an unarmed bystander. But when the French suffer a setback, Ogier joins the fray, seizing the flag (
oriflamme) and arms from a fleeing
standard-bearer, Alory. Ogier comes waving the
oriflamme to succor King Charles, and for his deeds, "Ogier is knighted by the king, who girds him with his own sword". Next, Ogier accepts the challenge of single combat from the Saracen warrior Karaheut of India, but enemies interrupt and abduct Ogier. Karaheut protests for Ogier's release, to no avail, and loses his engagement to the amiral's daughter Gloriande (Glorianda). The amiral then decides his daughter should marry the brutish warrior Brunamont of Maiolgre, but she is unwilling, and appoints the captured Ogier as her champion to fight on her behalf. Ogier, armed with Karaheut's sword
Cortain (or Corte, Cortana, etc.), clips off the ear, then arm, and finally cuts down Brunamont and confiscates the horse Broiefort. In the second branch, Ogier's son Bauduinet (Baldwinet) is slain by Charlot over a game of chess. Ogier attacks Charlot and demands his life in revenge, resulting in his banishment. Ogier is given safe haven by King Didier of Pavia in
Lombardy. Ogier strengthens the fortifications at Castelfort (Chastel Fort) and Mont Quevrel in Lombardy. In the subsequent branches, Ogier holes up at the Chastelfort (Château-fort) on the
Rhône, and sustains attacks by
siege engines like the
mangonel, but Ogier's squire Benoit fights back using
Greek fire (see fig. right). Ogier continues his wars with Charlemagne (alone, after losing his squire Benoit/Bennet), enduring for seven years, then is taken prisoner for another seven years. After the notice that Ogier entered his 7th year of imprisonment, (vv. 9761–5) the ninth branch begins, and renewed attack by the Saracens, led by Brehus (or Brehier appears and stops the sword, giving Charlot only a buffet instead (vv. 10451–11038) (cf. image left). Here ends the ninth branch, which the editor Barrois says is the end of the poem as originally written by Raimbert, the rest of the portion being later expansions. In the tenth branch, Ogier actually fights the
giant, King Brehier/Braiher/Bréhus of Africa who measures an unreal in height, bears a sword of Galant's make worth three times as much as Ogier's sword Corte. and mounted on ("black and white"). Ogier's horse Broiefort is sadly killed, but Ogier strikes off his foe's head (vv. 11039–11856). When the eleventh branch commences, Ogier makes trophy of the horse Bauçant (vv. 11857–11947). Branch XI (vv. 11882–12494) mainly concerns the Saracens vengefully attacking, embroiling an English princess whom Ogier saves,), and the daughter of Angart (Edgar), king of England lusted after by twenty Saracens, Ogier comes to her rescue. The particulars of the post-Brehier warring is skipped over by the aforementioned above-cited summaries, but the chanson names a series of Saracen enemies who show up and Ogier exchanges blows with his Corte and new horse Bauçant. Ogier fends well against paynims by the hundreds and even thousands (vv. 12438–9). It appears that rest of the French were oblivious, as Charlemagne was asleep when he dreams of his greyhound being attacked by leopards (vv. 12446–52). a scene of Corsuble lamenting the death of his son. Adenet also elucidates a clear reason for the grievance with the Danes, namely Gaufroi of Danemarche had warred against Constance of Hungary, Charlemagne's aunt causing damages, which led to the imposition of tribute and taking of hostage. Later, when the dust settles, the ill will between the houses is mended by the double marriage of Gaufroi with Constance, and his daughter with her son. When she became pregnant she grew so large as if she were carrying two twins, and when she died while delivering Ogier (vv. 89–97). Gauffroy remarries with Germaine de Vanbiz (v. 109) (compare in both the expanded decasyllabic and Raimbert's
Chevalerie Ogier). Here, Ogier's lover is named Guymer, who bears Ogier the son Badouïn out of wedlock. In the Alexandrine version, Ogier's fate with Morgan (Morgue) is set in motion while he is still a newborn in his crib. Six
fées (fays) visit the baby, each with a gift, and Morgan's gift is longevity and life living with her. As for the other fays, Gloriande promises he shall be the finest knight in Christendom, Sagremoire that he shall miss no battle, Foramonde that he be undefeated in combat, another ("white fay with the
fleur-de-lis (") fulfillment of love, Beatrix granted him the gift of sweetness and grace. Morgan vowed he would never die until after he becomes her lover. After a further career in the Orient (
Acre, Babylone), Ogier is brought by the fay Morgan to Avalon to live with her, as predicted, and a son M[e]urvin is born. Ogier yearns to return to France but centuries have passed (the plot is analyzed in detail under below). Overall, it is noted that the first half of the Alexandrines reworking is more or less faithful to the original work by Raimbert; one embellishment that does occur in this portion is the love development between Ogier and Didier's queen . In the second half, or the continuation portion, Ogier remains an important figure, but is no longer a solo act, as characters such as his nephew Gautier, and Caraheust, reintroduced from Branch I, perform actions of considerable significance in the plot. In the Alexandrine version, Caraheu's engages in a duel against (, cf. image right), and it had been messaged to him by God that should he be victorious, it should be taken as sign he should convert to Christianity.
Prose romance in print The prose rendering appeared in the 15th century, and first printed (
editio princeps) being the Lyons 1496 edition by Jean de Veral, For the edition, there are three known copies printed on vellum, of which the Turin copy is particularly luxuriant, and issued as a facsimile edition by (1967). together with a miniature of the genuflecting Vérard presenting the book to the monarch. The copy is held by the
Turin National University Library (shelfmark XV.V.183). Some outer quires are handwritten in script resembling typeset to replace some leaves. There are several other copies extant around the world, The copy of
Henry VII of England (British Library C.22.c.1/IB 41217) is also on vellum, with miniatures in the
style of the . The Paris BN copy is on vellum, too. The
Pierpont Morgan Library copy in New York is on paper, and bears a [semi-]unique
frontispiece of Ogier at birth.
Contents of the romance The fairy-related parts of the Alexandrine romance at the beginning and later laisses were summarized by Keightley (1850) [1828]. (1921) "And then the sixth fairy, the youngest and the most beautiful of all, who was none other than Morgan le Fay, the Queen of Avalon, caught up the child, and danced about the room in rapturous joy."|alt= The first chapter of the prose edition names "Gloriande, Palestine, Pharamonde, Melior, Presine, Morgue". Ogier's meeting with the fays at birth binds his fate with Morgue/Morgan who becomes his lover in Avalon at a later turn in the prose redaction, as already iterated for the Alexandrine version. But still while in the mortal world, Ogier has an enhanced career embellished by the romancers. Not only does Ogier save the daughter of the king of England and marries Princess Clarice, but Ogier goes to England and becomes its king of England, thereafter he visits his younger brother the King Guyon of Denmark and his nephew Gautier. However, Ogier having received God's decree to go to Acre and defend it, entrusts the rule of England to Bertrand de Bruyt, but at Charles's court Bertrand pretends Ogier to have perished in an attempt to marry Clarice. Ogier's nephew Gautier arrives to expose the lie, and accepting a duel for justice, wins and the traitor is hanged. The work enters into the so-called "Ogier en Orient" portion of the
suite as described above when Ogier, as anticipated, travels east to succor the Christian cause and eventually accept kingship over Acre. increasingly enormous riches to
ransom himself and his horse Marchevalée (escalating to 100 maidens, 100 helms, 100
gyrfalcons, etc. to the
hauberk of
St. George), the return of his horse is still refused. Thus this Marchevalée figures in the Alexandrines as the third horse (of four) ridden by Ogier, after . It recurs in the prose printed text also, e.g. "marceualee" in the 1579 edition, from which it is seen that its owner is "Soudan Noradin" of Babylone. Ogier already had a wife Clarice, daughter of the king of England; now she has her baptized and has a marriage ceremony with her in Jerasulem, which the Christians also now control. After seeing to Gautier ruling Babylone, Ogier plans to accompany Caraheu so he can be baptised as Acaire but their ships get separated, and while Caraheu carries on with Gloriande, achieves his baptism, and converts his homeland of India, while Ogier's shipmates are all killed, and he drifts on a boat towards the attraction of the
magnetic castle of
lodestone, called the Castle Avallon (where Morgue/Morgan awaits). Ogier becomes Morgan's lover as anticipated, and spends his days in Avalon. He is given the lutin prince-turned-horse (cf. ) to ride, and in this prose version, ring to maintain the youth of a 30-year old, and a crown of forgetfulness (so he cares no more about the material world). Ogier also assists King Arthur in fairyland by facing the
lutin turned monster, Capalu[s]/Chapalu for which cf. . Oblivious to Ogier, in the material world, Noradin and others recover rule over major points in the Orient such as Babylone and Acre. Years pass, and Ogier and Morgan together bear a son named (var. Murvin, Marlyn). But after 200 years, the threat to Christendom is adjudged to be so dire, that Morgan lifts Ogier's crown of forgetfulness to restore his memory, and sends him back to aid France. In the Alexandrine version, Ogier is allowed to France after more than 200 years, sent along with the lutin horse he rode in fairyland, and given a firebrand which must not be allowed to be burnt down for him to remain alive (and this is preserved in the prose as well) Ogier arrives during the reign of King Philip, whom he outlives, and when pressed by the king's widow to marry him, whereupon he throws a brand into the fire, This lady is of age and covets the ring, sending assassins at Ogier. Though the French were faring poorly, Ogier rescues the prisoners, and suggests to the enemy leader Florion to settle the war by close battle. The amiral of Nubia wants to join on their side, and wishes to stipulate Ogier no longer ride Papillon, but Papillon changes color to deceive them. The Saracens are defeated and Florion converts. Ogier is prompted to tell his story, but just as he was about to breach his promise to keep Avalon secret, the ring falls off him, and grew old, while Count Geoffroy who puts it on regains youth, and wants to keep it for good. But Morgan comes to restore the ring to the Dane, and admonishes him not to talk about Avalon again. The conclusion differs slightly here: when the widowed queen presses Ogier to marry him, Ogier seeks the advice of the abbot of St. Faro who assents to the match, but a lady dressed in white (Fay Morgan) spirits Ogier away, and no one knows what has become of him, though people are sure he still lives.
Meurvin continuation Meurvin became the subject of a lengthy Renaissance era romance, ''Roman de Meurvin, fils d'Oger le Danois
(1531), where Meurvin via his son Oriant becomes the ancestor of the Swan Knight, Lohengrin. The work, also issued under the title Histoire du Preux et Vaillant Chevalier Meurvin'' (1540), thus staked the claim that Ogier was an ancestor of
Godfrey of Bouillon, the historical crusader king of Jerusalem, who was allegedly descended from the Swan Knight according to the romances. == Legend in Italy ==