Icelandic Horse in Medieval French Romances--Part 2

In the French romance, Erec and Enide written by Chrétien de Troyes around 1170 , Enide rides a "palefroi Norrois" or Norse palfrey. "While lamenting, the lady attired herself beautifully in her finest dress. Nothing, however, pleased her. Everything had become a source of grief. She had a maid summon one of her squires, and she ordered him to saddle her splendid Norse palfrey. No count or king ever had a better horse. The moment she gave the squire the command, he followed it without delay and saddled the dappled palfrey."

As Erec and Enide ride off on their adventure, they are spotted by a band of eight rogue knights. The leader espies the splendid Norse palfrey and rouses his fellow bandits to attack Erec and Enide. The bandit leader swears that he wants only the stunning Norse palfrey, the rest of the band can have the woman and the rest of the loot.

And the story continues. One of the scholars writing about this romance claims, based not on research but solely on her opinion, that the splendid Norse palfrey had to have been a Friesian or other cross. Obviously this scholar does not know much
about Icelandic horse or the Nordland horse or other representives of the Norse breed. Every Icelandic owner would agree that "No count or king ever had a better horse."


Source: Chrâetien (de Troyes), The Complete Romances of Chrâetien de Troyes, Indiana University Press, 1990

Icelandic Horse in Medieval French Romances--Part 1



From the Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry

Jens N. Faaborg  authored a book titled Animaux domestiques dans la literature narrative française au Moyen Âge  in which he examines the role of domesticed animals in the French medieval literature. Much of his book is devoted to the role of the horse since that animal is overwhelming mentioned the most in literature of that timeframe.  He looks at horses as defined by usage, breed, color, etc.

 

One of the "breeds" that he mentions is "norrois palefroi" or Norse or Norwegian palfrey, which is gaited: 

 

"Dans un nombre considérable des exemples où une dame monte sur un palefroi, l’épithète norrois s’accole à notre terme. Nous supposons qu’il est question de petits chevaux norvégiens (d’autant plus qu’il y a aussi des occurrences avec l’épithète petit). Il y a quelques rares occurrences avec les épithètes gascon et breton, mais les palefrois norrois sont de toute évidence les montures préférées des dames. Nous avons trouvé quelques exemples où ils sont montés par des hommes (voir supra, Dole, 2174-7)" :

"Rough Translation: In a considerable number of examples where a lady goes on a palfrey, the Norse epithet is tacked to this term. We assume it refers to small Norwegian horses (especially since there are also instances using the epithet small). There are few occurrences with Gascon and Breton epithets but the Norse palfreys are obviously a favorite of the ladies. We found a few examples where they are mounted by men."

 

Quotes from French literature:

 

Mais, ensi qu’il se combatoient, atant es vous vers aus venir

une damoisele sour un palefroi noirois (...) TP, vi, 118, 21-2.

Une courtoise damoisele,

Qui molt ert avenanz et bele,

Desus .i. palefroi norrois, Claris, 810-2. Cf. ib., 23718-9.

Gui dist à Ayglentine, le preus et le courtois :

’Damoisele, brochiés le palefroi norrois — Gui de N., 1487-8.

Rois Loth et rois Baudemagus

Sont vers Blanchandine venus,

Par la regne la vont prenant

Del noirois palefrois amblant. Floriant, 6007-10.

Desor un palefroi norrois Blancandin, 685.

A tant en vont andui ensamble,

La mule la damoisele amble

Plus tost c’uns palefrois norois. Cont. P., i, 1887-9.

De l’un un palefroi norrois Erec, 2386. Cf. ib., 2615 ; 4126.

Source : http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2021301/DAAEB4C5374CAC44A223EA2607E6A6A91EE7CFFC.html?start=24&query=medieval+horses+&qf=TYPE:TEXT&startPage=1&rows=24

 

Ah, but you might say that the term Norrois refers to the breed Norwegian Fjord.  To the best of my knowledge, this breed has never been gaited.  And, believe it or not Charles Dickens can help us more closely determine the source of Norrois horses.  He quotes M. Francisque-Michel, a French author, as placing the origin of the Norrois horses, famous in the 13th century, as orginating in the Orkney Islands or Greenland.  I wonder if the author could have confused Iceland with Greenland?





I have to admit that these Norrois  horses are still a hit with the ladies.  ;-) 




 

Source: Bentley's Miscellany, Volume 53 Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith,-- “Horses and Studs in France, “Richard Bentley publisher, 1863

 

How to Register an Icelandic Horse

There are many reasons to register your Icelandic horse with the United States Icelandic Horse Congress.  The registration paper shows proof of ownership.  You can trace individual horses through WorldFengur, the global Icelandic horse registry.   Since DNA is required from registered parents, you can prove that your horse is a purebred Icelandic.  A registered horse tends to sell for more money than a grade horse.  And if you breed, registration adds value to the offspring.  But the most important reason is that a registered horse has a better chance in life—more likely to be rescued from a feedlot, more likely to find a responsible home.  If the horse unfortunately goes to auction or kill buyer and the papers go with the horse, your name is on the paperwork so that somebody can contact you about a rescue.