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Doon de Mayence[a] was a fictional hero of theOld Frenchchansons de gesteDoon de Maience[2] and later French prose renditions such asDoolin de Maience (1501)[3] and orDoolin de Mayence (1530).[4]
Doon de Mayence is also the name of the thirdcycle of theCharlemagneromances, grouping together works that deal with feudal revolts.
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Thechason de geste about the exploits of Doon himself[5] (Doon de Maience[2]) came later than thechansons about other rebels (Cf.§ Cycle and historical models below). The first half, a separate romance dealing with his romantic childhood, is a fiction dating back to the 13th century,[5] while the second half of the poem, detailing Doon’s wars in Saxony, is perhaps based on historical events.[5]
The manuscripts of thechason de geste are:[1]
Thecycle (orgrand geste[7]) ofDoon de Mayence, also called theRebellious Vassal Cycle (cycle des barons révoltés) and loosely defined,[8][9] artificially grouped together a number ofchansons de geste that had to do with legendary "rebel barons" opposingCharlemagne, which originally did not have a unified story underlying all of them, but forcibly connected together by inventing fictitiousgenealogical ties.[5] These rebel baron tales had their historical models who were generally active before (or after) Charlemagne's reign, thus, the insolence shown by the robber baron hints that "Charlemagne" is used in the tale in name only, and actually represents his weaker successors.[5]
The historical model for this rebellious "de Mayence" family is pre-Carolingian, namely the betrayers of theMerovingian monarchSigebert III: Sigebert's subjects from Mayence (Mainz) whoturncoated during the battle fought againstDuke Radulf on the banks of theUnstrut inThuringia, as documented in theChronicle of Fredegar (iv. 87).[5] Legends of these men were later developed in Italy into a series of stories about criminals.[5]
Other poems that make upDoon de Mayence cycle include thechansons ofOgier the Dane,the four sons of Aymon, andHuon of Bordeaux,[5]Girart de Roussillon,Raoul de Cambrai[8][7] There is also the poem of his sonGaufrey [fr], the sequel toDoon de Maience, where Gaufrey is in turn the father of Ogier.[9]}[b]
Poems such asGui de Nanteuil [wikidata][b] andTristan de Nanteuil now classified as belonging to the Nanteuil cycle (outside the 3 major cycles),[10] but they are still attached to the Doon cycle as the poems about Gaufrey's other children.[9][8]
The poems about Aymon's nephews (Renaud's cousins)Maugis (Maugis d'Aigremont)[9][b] andVivien 'amachour de monbranc (about 1100 verses[b]) are attached to this cycle,[5] butEnfances Vivien [fr] and its sequelChevalerie Vivien [fr] are categorized under theGuillaume d'Orange cycle.[11]
The poemsAuberi le Bourguignon,Gormond et Isembart are also categorized under the Rebellious Vassal Cycle.[9]
Doon was probably one of the last characters to be clearly defined compared to Ogier, etc.,[5] and his chansonDoon de Maience was drawn up partly with the view of supplying a suitable ancestor for the other heroes—in modern terms, aprequel.[5]
Doon had twelve sons, of whom the most noteworthy are:[5]
The history of these figures is given inDoon de Mayence,Gaufrey, the romances relating to Ogier,Aye d’Avignon, the fragmentaryDoon de Nanteuil,Gui de Nanteuil,Tristan de Nanteuil,Parise la Duchesse,Maugis d’Aigremont,Vivien l’amachour de Monbranc,Renaus de Montauban (orLes Quatre Fils Aymon) andHuon de Bordeaux.
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