Fierabras
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Fierabras (from French a bras fier, "on brave arm") or Ferumbras is a Saracen knight appearing in several chansons de geste and other material relating to the Matter of France. He is the son of Balan, king of Spain, and is frequently shown in conflict with Roland and the Twelve Peers, especially Oliver, whose prowess he easily rivals. Many of the tales have him eventually converting to Christianity and fighting for Charlemagne.
In 1823, Franz Schubert wrote the opera Fierrabras, based on certain tales surrounding the knight's conversion.
[edit] The balm of Fierabras
According to a chanson from 1170, Fierabras and Balan conquered Rome and stole two barrels containing the balm used for the corpse of Jesus. This miraculous balm would heal whomever drank it.
In Chapter X of the first volume of Don Quixote de la Mancha, after one of his numerous beatings, Don Quixote mentions to Sancho Panza that he knows the recipe of the balm. In Chapter XVII, Don Quixote instructs Sancho that the ingredients are oil, wine, salt and rosemary. The knight boils them and blesses them with eighty paternosters, Hail Mary and Creed. Upon drinking it, Don Quixote vomits and sweats and feels healed after sleeping. However, for Sancho it has also a laxative effect, rendering him near death.
[edit] External links
- The Sultan of Babylon a Middle English romance featuring Ferumbras
- DRAE Spanish definition of fierabrás: an unruly, evil person, generally applied to naughty kids.
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