Saladin. De l'histoire a la legende (12eme-15eme siecles)
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Université Stendhal (Grenoble)Disciplines:
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Abstract EN:
The tales about sultan saladin's life -whether historically true or legendary-constitue 36the bulk of this dissertation. Saladin was made famous both in eastern and western countries'by his victory over the frankish army in jerusalem in 1187. Although he conquered the holy city, he remained the most respected muslim leader in europe. Renowned for his military valour, he was ho less famous for his magnanimity towards the vanquished. His tolerance, generosity and courtesy to women endeased him to his frankish foes who went so far as to compare him to the most virtuous chirstian monarchs. In their eyewitness acconnts, western chronichers paid tribute to his qualities and moral stature. Poets and troubadours sang his prises in their verse. During his lifetime, he became a legendary figure in europe and his fame kept growing throughout the middle ages. As a tribute to his merits, he was dubbed a knight, which put him on a par with the greatest frankish knights ; he was credited with frankish origins, which gave the franks a share in his glory ; finally, as he had been a paragon of knightly virtues, he was christened to ensure the salvation of his soul.
Abstract FR:
L'histoire et la legende du sultan saladin constituent les principales composantes de notre these. Rendu celebre, en orient et en occident, par sa victoire sur l'armee franque de jerusalem en 1187, saladin fut, malgre la perte de la ville sainte, le souverain musulman le plus respecte en europe. Celebre par ses exploits, saladin ne fut pas moins celebre par la magnanimite qu'il montra envers les vaincus. Son esprit de tolerance, sa liberalite et sa courtoisie envers les femmes lui firent gagner la sympathie de ses adversaires francs, qui n'hesiterent pas a le comparer aux plus vertueux souverains chretiens. Les chroniqueurs occidentaux rendent hommage a ses qualites et ses vertus, par le temoignage precis de leurs narrations. Les poetes ou trouveres les ont egalement chantees dans leurs vers. Du vivant de saladin, une legende commenca a se former, en europe, autour de son personnage, et elle n'avait pas cesse de se developper tout au long du moyen age. Pour lui rendre justice et le mettre sur un pied d'egalite avec les plus grands chevaliers francs, on lui confera le titre de chevalier; et pour revendiquer une part dans l'honneur de ses exploits et de ses vertus, on lui attribua une origine franque; enfin, pour sauver l'ame de celui qui fut le type meme d'un chevalier parfait, on le fit baptiser.