Gloriant
Encyclopedia
Gloriant is a Middle Dutch
drama
. It is one of the four abele spelen
that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift
and consists of 1142 lines in rhyme
The other abele spelen are: Esmoreit
, Lanseloet van Denemerken
and Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer
The play is named after the masculine leading character Gloriant, duke of Bruuyswijc. It deals with the love
between two people of different religion and is followed by the sotternie, the farce
Buskenblaser.
Florentijn, daughter of Rodelioen from Abelant, hears of him and sees much of herself in Gloriant’s way of doing. She sends her help Rogier to Gloriant with a portrait of hers.
When Gloraint sees it, he immediately falls in love with her, but then the trouble starts: his relatives now are less keen on him marrying Florentijn because Gloraint’s father had killed several relatives of Rodelieon during a crusade. This will not help in getting Gloriant a good reception.
Despite this Gloriant goes to Abelant to get Florentijn. They meet in an orchard near the palace and confess their love for each other. They decide to leave the very night. Overcome by fatigue Gloriant falls asleep in Florentijn’s lap. Floerant, Rodelioen’s cousin, finds them there; he takes the sword (Brant) of Gloriant and betrayes them.
Rodelioen is outraged and imprisons Gloriant and Florentijn in order to kill them. Faithful Rogier manages to free Gloriant and hides him in the forest. He plays a risky double play and goes to Rodelioen to advise him to have Florentijn beheaded right away. Because of her betrayal of her own religion for Christianity he agrees. Just before her death Gloriant leapes forward, kills Rodelioen and takes Florentijn to Bruuyswijc to marry her.
Middle Dutch
Middle Dutch is a collective name for a number of closely related West Germanic dialects which were spoken and written between 1150 and 1500...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
. It is one of the four abele spelen
Abele spelen
The Abele Spelen are a collection of four plays contained in the valuable Hulthemse Handschrift. This manuscript dates from 1410 and is in the collection of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, the Royal Library in Brussels, Belgium, hs. 15.589-623....
that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift
Van Hulthem (manuscript)
The manuscript known as the Van Hulthem manuscript is a masterpiece of medieval Dutch literature. Its contents of over 200 stories from around Brussels, Belgium was summarized in the following slogan: 'all of life’s intensity in one volume'....
and consists of 1142 lines in rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
The other abele spelen are: Esmoreit
Esmoreit
Esmoreit is a Middle Dutch drama. It is one of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 1018 lines in rhymeThe other abele spelen are: Gloriant, Lanseloet van Denemerken and Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer...
, Lanseloet van Denemerken
Lanseloet van Denemerken
Lanseloet van Denemerken is a Middle Dutch drama. It is one of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 925 lines in rhyme...
and Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer
Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer
Vanden Winter ende vanden Somer is a Middle Dutch drama. It is the shortest of the four abele spelen that are contained in the Hulthemse handschrift and consists of 625 lines in rhyme...
The play is named after the masculine leading character Gloriant, duke of Bruuyswijc. It deals with the love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
between two people of different religion and is followed by the sotternie, the farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
Buskenblaser.
Roles
- Gheraert (uncle of duke Gloriant)
- Godevaert (friend of duke Gloriant)
- Gloriant (Duke of Bruuyswijc)
- Florentijn die maghet (daughter of Rodelioen)
- Rogier (servant of Florentijn)
- Rode Lioen (Rodelioen, Lord of Abelant)
- Floerant (cousin of Rodelioen)
- De Hangdief (the executioner)
Plot
Gloriant is the duke of Bruuyswijc and a bachelor by heart. His relatives Gheraert and Godevaert urge him to marry to make sure there is a successor. Gloriant doesn’t make haste.Florentijn, daughter of Rodelioen from Abelant, hears of him and sees much of herself in Gloriant’s way of doing. She sends her help Rogier to Gloriant with a portrait of hers.
When Gloraint sees it, he immediately falls in love with her, but then the trouble starts: his relatives now are less keen on him marrying Florentijn because Gloraint’s father had killed several relatives of Rodelieon during a crusade. This will not help in getting Gloriant a good reception.
Despite this Gloriant goes to Abelant to get Florentijn. They meet in an orchard near the palace and confess their love for each other. They decide to leave the very night. Overcome by fatigue Gloriant falls asleep in Florentijn’s lap. Floerant, Rodelioen’s cousin, finds them there; he takes the sword (Brant) of Gloriant and betrayes them.
Rodelioen is outraged and imprisons Gloriant and Florentijn in order to kill them. Faithful Rogier manages to free Gloriant and hides him in the forest. He plays a risky double play and goes to Rodelioen to advise him to have Florentijn beheaded right away. Because of her betrayal of her own religion for Christianity he agrees. Just before her death Gloriant leapes forward, kills Rodelioen and takes Florentijn to Bruuyswijc to marry her.