Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes was a twelfth-century French poet who wrote the earliest known Arthurian romances in verse.
His works—including *Lancelot*, *Yvain*, and the unfinished *Perceval*—introduced or popularized elements that became central to the legend: the love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, the quest for the Holy Grail.
Medieval romance as a genre owes much to his influence.
- CamelotLegendary British royal seat
- courtly loveChivalric romantic ideal
- troubadourMedieval Provençal lyric poet
- Holy GrailLegendary cup from scripture
- MerlinMythical British sorcerer
Guinevere · epic poetry · Excalibur · allegory · knight-errant · romance · manuscript · chivalry · Gawain · 12th century · Arthurian · illuminated manuscript · Crusades · feudalism · damsel · Lancelot · oral tradition · joust
- Arthurian LegendKing Arthur, Merlin, Excalibur, Camelot, Lancelot
Chrétien de TroyesSnorri Sturluson
Chrétien de TroyesGeoffrey of Monmouth
Medieval British pseudo-historian
Chrétien de TroyesOne Thousand and One Nights
Classic frame-tale collection