Le Moyen Age
De Boeck Université

I.S.B.N.978280415760
228 pages

p. 55 à 65
doi: 10.3917/rma.141.0055

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Tome CXIV 2008/1

Les deux Alpais et les toponymes épiques (Avroy-)Auridon-Oridon-Dordon(e)

Gustav Adolf BECKMANN
Contrary to what some scholars have recently tried to demonstrate, the beautiful episode about Alpaida in the 12th Century Girart de Roussillon has no genetic link either to a story about elves or to German mythology. As background, the episode follows the narrative storyline of the beautiful jailer in love with her prisoner (substantiated at least twice in 12th Century French-speaking circles before the Girart) whereas, for its proper names and certain related motifs, it was inspired by the legend of Alpaida, mother of Charles Martel (as this legend appeared in the 12th Century). In favor of this latter relationship, one should note the etymological identity, hitherto unrecognized, between Avridum “Avroy-près-Liège”, home of Alpaida, mother of Charles Martel, and (Auridum>) Auridon, the imaginary home in the Ardennes of the Girart Alpaida. Oridon in the song of Auberi le Bourguignon and, probably, Dordon(e) in the Quatre Fils Aymon, both names of imaginary castles in the Ardennes, are derived from the same place-name.Keywords : Alpaida (Girart de Roussillon), Alpaida, mother of Charles Martel, Auridon (Girart de Roussillon), Avroy, commune of Liège, Dordon(e) (Quatre Fils Aymon), Oridon (Auberi le Bourguignon) epic place-names, Belgium.


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