aau/MüllerA newly approved project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) explores one of the most fascinating yet understudied figures of chivalric literature: Renaud de Montauban, cousin of Roland and a central character in the Matter of France. Giulia Zava, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Romance Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, will investigate how Renaud’s character changes across time, genres and cultural contexts.

Between the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries, Renaud appears in French, Italian and Spanish texts, embodying the restless spirit of rebellion that distinguishes him from other Carolingian heroes. Originating in the medieval French chansons de geste of the Narbonne cycle, Renaud belongs to the noble lineage of Garin de Monglane. From the start, he is portrayed as a brave knight, skilled in battle and fiercely independent. In the earliest narratives, he fights alongside his brothers in the service of Charlemagne, but over time his character grows more complex: resourceful, bold, and at times openly defiant of imperial authority. When his legend crossed into Italian tradition, he was reimagined as the lord of Montalbano and cousin of Roland, embodying a blend of courage, generosity, cunning, and fiery temperament.
“Although Renaud does not appear in the famous Chanson de Roland, he plays a major role across the Carolingian cycle, where his defiance of authority and shifting moral codes offer a unique perspective on the literary, cultural and ideological transformation of early modern Europe,” explains Giulia Zava, Principal Investigator of the recently approved FWF project (DOI: 10.55776/ESP4887825). Angela Fabris is at her side as a mentor. The research seeks to answer a series of key questions: “Why does Renaud sometimes appear as a hero, at other times as a rebel, or as Roland’s counterpart? How do these variations reflect the social and political concerns of different periods? And what can they tell us about the evolving ideas of chivalry, power and identity?”
Adopting a comparative approach, the study will combine traditional literary analysis with digital humanities tools to map the themes and relationships surrounding Renaud’s character. Using ontologies from information science, a database will be created to trace how characters and events develop across centuries and regions. The results will be made available through an interactive online platform, enabling users to explore Renaud’s narrative world through dynamic visualisations. Giulia Zava, summing up: “By following Renaud’s journey through time and space, the project aims to open new perspectives on literary criticism, comparative literature, digital humanities, cultural history and gender studies – showing how one rebellious knight can illuminate centuries of European imagination.”
Der Beitrag New research on Renaud de Montauban: What a rebellious knight reveals about centuries of European imagination erschien zuerst auf University of Klagenfurt.