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Tristan and Isolde as depicted by Herbert Draper (1864 -1920).

Tristan is a fictional character in Arthurian folklore. For other uses see Tristan (disambiguation).

Tristan (Latin/Brythonic: Drustanus; Welsh: Drystan; also known as Tristran, Tristram, etc.) was a Cornish hero from folklore and one of the Knights of the Round Table whose story is told in the Matter of Britain. He was the son of Blancheflor and Rivalen (in later versions Isabelle and Meliodas), and the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall, sent to fetch Isolde back from Ireland to wed the king. However, they fall in love en route (often ascribed to a love potion meant for Isolde and Mark). Tristan and Isolde undergo numerous trials that test their secret love.

The Tristan legend cycle

Tristan makes his first medieval appearance in 1120 in Celtic folklore circulating in the north of France. Although the oldest stories concerning Tristan are lost, some of the derivatives still exist. The two most famous are the retellings of the Anglo-Norman poet Thomas of Britain, whose poem was followed by the German poet Gottfried von Strassburg, and of the French poet Béroul. Arthurian romancier Chrétien de Troyes mentions in his poem Cligés that he wrote a version of the tale, but, if so, there are no physical remains.

Early medieval Tristan literature

The Courtly Branch

The earliest representation of what scholars name the "courtly" version of the Tristan legend is in the work of Thomas of Britain. Only eight substantial fragments of his Tristan poem were located, scattered across a diffuse number of European libraries.

In his text, Thomas names another trouvere who also sang of Tristan, though no manuscripts of this earlier version have been discovered. There is also a fascinating passage telling how Iseult wrote a short lai out of grief that sheds light on the development of an unrelated legend concerning the death of a prominent troubadour, as well as the composition of lais by noblewomen of the twelth century. ^[1].

The next essential text for our knowledge of the courtly branch of the Tristan legend is that written by Brother Robert at the request of King Hakon Hakonarson of Norway in 1227. King Hakon had wanted to promote Angevin-Norman culture at his court, and so commissioned the translation of several French Arthurian works.

The Nordic version presents a complete, direct narrative of the events in Thomas' Tristan, with the telling omission of his numerous interpretive diversions. It is the only complete representative of the courtly branch in its formative period.^[2].

Preceding the work of Brother Robert chronologically is the Tristan and Isolt of Gottfreid von Strassburg, written circa 1211-1215. The poem was Gottfreid's only known work, and was left incomplete due to his death with the retelling reaching half-way through the main plot. The poem was later completed by authors such as Heinrich von Freiberg, but with the "common" branch of the legend as the ideal source. ^[3].

The Common Branch

The earliest representation of the "common branch" is Béroul's Le Roman de Tristan. The branch is so named due to its representation of an earlier non-chivalric, non-courtly, tradition of story-telling, making more mention of the Dark Ages than of the refined High Middle Ages. In this respect, they are similar to Layamon's Brut and the Persevalus.

As with Thomas' works, our knowledge of Beroul's is limited. There were a few substantial fragments of his works discovered in the nineteenth century, and the rest was reconstructed from later versions.

The more substantial illustration of the common branch is the German version by Eilhart von Oberge. Eilharts version was popular, but pales in comparison with the later Gottfried.^[3].

A common source

The French medievalist Joseph Bédier thought all the Tristan legends could be traced to a single original poem, adapted by Thomas of Brittany into French from an original Cornish or Breton source. He dubbed this hypothetical original the "Ur-Tristan", and wrote his still popular Romance of Tristan and Iseult as an attempt to reconstruct what this might have been like. In all likelihood, Common Branch versions reflect an earlier form of the story; accordingly, Bédier relied heavily on Einhart and Béroul, and incorporated material from other versions to make a cohesive whole. Scholars still consider Bédier's argument convincing.

Later medieval versions

French

Contemporary with Beroul and Thomas, the famous Marie de France presents a Tristan episode in one of her lais: the Lai de Chevrofoil. It describes Tristan sending messages to Iseult through carved pine cones, reminiscent of a similar motif in Brother Robert's version, when Tristan sends carved pieces of wood down river for Iseult to see.^[3].

There are also two 12th century "Foilies Tristan": short, humorous pieces found in Oxford and Bern, Switzerland that concern Tristan arriving at Marks court covertly disguised as a fowl. While entertaining, these short pieces didn't significantly contribute to either the common or courtly textual traditions.

After Béroul and Thomas, the most important development in French Tristaniana is a complex grouping of texts known broadly as the Prose Tristan. The narratives of these lengthy versions vary greatly from manuscript to manuscript. The Prose Tristan had a great influence on later medieval literature, and inspired parts of the Post-Vulgate Cycle, the Romance of Palamedes, and Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur.

English

The earliest, complete source of the Tristan material in English was Sir Tristram, a romance of some 3344 lines written circa 1300. It is preserved in the famous Auchinleck manuscript at the National Library of Scotland. The narrative largely follows the courtly tradition and as with many medieval English adaptations of French Arthuriana, the poems artistic achievement can only be described as average, though some critics have tried to rehabilitate it, claiming it is a parody. Its first editor, Sir Walter Scott, provided a 60 line ending to the story, which has since been printed with the romance in every subsequent edition.

The only other handling of the Tristan legend in English is Sir Thomas Malory's Romance of Tristan in Le Morte d'Arthur. Since the Winchester manuscript surfaced in 1934, there has been much scholarly debate whether the Tristan narrative, like all the episodes in Le Morte d'Arthur, were originally intended to be an independent work or part of a larger whole.^[3].

Scandinavia

The popularity of Brother Roberts version spawned an unique parody, Saga Af Tristan ok Isodd as well as the hauntingly beautiful poem Tristrams kvaedi.

There is also a Nordic version of Marie de France's Tristan episode in the Nordic translation of her lais -- the Strengjaleikir.

By the nineteenth century, scholars had found Tristan legends across the Nordic world, from Denmark to the Faroe Islands. These stories, however, diverged greatly from their medieval precursors. In one Danish ballad Tristan and Iseult are made brother and sister

The same was true in two popular Danish chapbooks of the late eighteenth century Tristans saga ok Inionu and Tragoedisk Histoire om den alle og trappre Tistrant, in which Iseult is made the princess of India.

The popularity of these chapbooks inspired Icelandic novelists Gunnar Leifsson and Niels Johnson to write novels inspired by the Tristan legend.^[3].

Dutch

A 130 line frament of a Dutch version of Thomas of Englands Tristan exist. It is in a manuscript in Vienna at the National Library.

Welsh

A short Tristan narrative, perhaps related to the Beroul text, exist in six Welsh manuscripts dating from the late sixteenth to the mid seventeenth century.^[3].

Spanish

Carta enviada por Hiseo la Brunda Tristan; Repuesta de Tristanis a 15th century romance written in the form of imaginary letters between the two lovers.^[3].

Czech

A 13th century verse romance exists in Czech, theorised to be influenced by the popularity of German Tristaniana at the time. It is the only know verse representative of the Tristan story in a Slavic language.^[3].

Italian

The Tristan legend proved very popular in Italy; there were many cantari, or oral poems, performed in the public square, either about him, or frequently referencing him:

Cantari di Tristano
Due Tristani
Quando Tristano e Lancielotto combattiero al petrone di Merlino
Ultime impresse e morte Tristano
Vendetta che fe messer Lanzelloto de la Morte di Mister Tristano

There were also four major manuscripts of the Prose Tristan in medieval Italy, most named after their current city or place of composition:

Tavola ritonda
Tristano Panciaticchiano
Tristano Riccardiano
Tristano Veneto^[3].

Byelo-Russian

The Byelorussian prose 'Povest Trychane represents the furthest eastern advance of the legend, and, composed in the 1560s, is considered by some critics to be the last "medieval" Tristan or Arthurian text period.

Its lineage goes back to the Tristano Veneto Venice, at that time, controlled large areas of the Serbo-Croatian language area, engendering a more active literary and cultural life their than most Balkin areas at that time. The manuscript of the Povest states that it was translated from a (lost) Serbian intermediary. Scholars assume that the legend must have journeyed from Venice, through its Balkin colonies, finally reaching a last outpost in a Slavic dialect.^[4].

Like other Arthurian knights, Tristan and his tale vary from poet to poet. Even the spelling of his name varies a great deal, though "Tristan" is the most popular spelling. In Tristan and Yseut by Béroul, Tristan is as brave and fit as any knight, but he relies on trickery and doesn't uphold the moral standards expected of a knight. In fact, he is considered the greatest swordsman in Arthur's court. At times, indeed, Tristan is second only to Lancelot in valour.

In Béroul's tale, Tristan goes to Ireland to bring back the fair Yseut for his uncle King Mark to marry. Along the way, they accidentally ingest a love potion that causes the pair to be madly in love for three years. Although Yseut marries Mark, she and Tristan are forced by the potion to seek one another out for adultery. Although the typical noble Arthurian character would be shamed from such an act, the love potion that controls them frees Tristran and Yseut from responsibility. Thus Béroul presents them as victims. The king's advisors constantly try to have the pair tried for adultery, but again and again the couple use trickery to preserve their façade of innocence. Eventually the love potion wears off, and the two lovers are free to make their own choice as to whether they cease their adulterous lifestyle or continue. Béroul's ending is morally ambiguous, which differs greatly from his contemporaries such as Chrétien de Troyes and adds a bit of mystique to the legend of Tristan.

According to Celtic myth, Tristan owned a horse named Bel Joeor.

Brythonic roots

Tristan's name was originally written as Drustanus in Brittonic. The Welsh recorded his name as 'Trystan', and this became Tristan in English ears.

A standing gravestone called the "Tristan Stone" near Fowey in Cornwall says simply enough in Latin 'Drustanus Hic Iacit Cunomori Filius' (Drustanus lies here, the son of Cunomorus). Cunomorus is the Latin name of King Mark of Cornwall, who in legend was Tristan's uncle and Iseult's husband.

A Pictish connection?

There are very strange aspects to Tristan, such as the fact that he has a Pictish name. Drust is a very common name of Pictish kings, and Drustanus is merely Drust rendered into Romano-Brittonic. It may have originated from an ancient legend regarding a Pictish king who slew a giant in the distant past, which had spread throughout the isles. This could reflect a common linguistic heritage of Pictish and Cornish.

Another strange aspect is his kingdom, Lyonesse, for whose existence there is no evidence. However there were two places called Leonais: one in Brittany, the other the Old French transcription of Lothian. However, the Islands of Scilly have also been proposed to be this place, since they were possibly one island until Roman times and several islands are interconnected at low tide. Regardless, Tristan being a prince of Lothian would make his name more sensible, Lothian being on the borderlands of the Pictish High-Kingship (and once was a part of Pictish territory; Tristan may in fact have been a Pictish prince under a British King).

Under this explanation, the question arises of how the gravestone can be explained. One suggestion is that he could have been adopted into the family of Mark of Cornwall, historically a practice attested in Roman law.

The Tristan and Iseult romance

The romantic narrative of the Tristan and Iseult love affair predated and most likely influenced the Arthurian romance of Lancelot and Guinevere. The legend tells of the love affair between Tristan and Iseult of Ireland (the promised bride of Tristan's uncle), and the events and trials that the lovers go through to cover up their secret affair.

Wagner and other modern adaptations

In the 19th century, Richard Wagner composed the opera Tristan and Isolde, now considered one of the most influential pieces of music from the century. In his work, Tristan is portrayed as a doomed romantic figure.

Algernon Charles Swinburne wrote an epic poem Tristram of Lyonesse.

The story has also been adapted into film many times. The most recent American film version was produced by Tony Scott and Ridley Scott, written by Dean Georgaris, directed by Kevin Reynolds, and stars James Franco and Sophia Myles. (See Tristan and Isolde (film).)

The story of Tristan has also been represented through the song of the same name by the artist Patrick Wolf.

References

^ P. Schach (1973). Roman de Tristan. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press.
^ Thomas of Britain (1991). The Saga of Tristram and Isond. New York:Garland Publishers. ISBN 0824040341. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |translated by= ignored (help)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ N. J. Lacy (et al.). (1991). The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. New York : Garland Pub. Cite error: The named reference "The New Arthurian Encyclopedia" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
^ Z.Kipel (c. 1988). The Byelorussian Tristan. New York : Garland Publishing. ISBN 0824075986.

Roman de Tristan. Thomas of Britain ; (translated by) Stewart Gregory. New York : Garland Publishers, 1991. ISBN 0824040341
The Saga of Tristram and Isond. P. Schach. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press. 1973
The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. N. J. Lacy (et al.). New York : Garland Pub., 1991. "Gottfried von Strassburg"
Arthurian ArchivesEarly French Tristan Poems / edited by Norris J. Lacy. Cambridge (England); Rochester, NY : D.S. Brewer, 1998. ISBN 0824040341
NAE "Eilhart von Oberge"
Lancelot of the Laik and Sir Tristrem Edited by Alan Lupak Kalamazoo, Michigan: Medieval Institute Publications, 1994
NAE "Thomas Malory"
NAE "Marie de France"
Arthurian Archives: Norse romance. M. E. Kalinke. Woodbridge, Suffolk ; Rochester, NY : D.S. Brewer, 1999.
NAE "Tristan in Scandinavia"
NAE "Tristan"
NAE "Carta enviada por Hiseo la Brunda Tristan; Repuesta de Tristan"
NAE "Czech Arturian Literature"
The Byelorussian Tristan. Z.Kipel. New York : Garland Publishing, c1988. ISBN 0824075986
The Tristan Legend Hill, Joyce. Leeds England: Leeds Medieval Studies, 1973

External links

[Roman_de_Tristan-1] P. Schach (1973). Roman de Tristan. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press.

[The_Saga_of_Tristram_and_Isond-2] Thomas of Britain (1991). The Saga of Tristram and Isond. New York:Garland Publishers. ISBN 0824040341. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |translated by= ignored (help)

[The_New_Arthurian_Encyclopedia-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ N. J. Lacy (et al.). (1991). The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. New York : Garland Pub. Cite error: The named reference "The New Arthurian Encyclopedia" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).

[The_Byelorussian_Tristan-4] Z.Kipel (c. 1988). The Byelorussian Tristan. New York : Garland Publishing. ISBN 0824075986.

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