Romance of Muhammad

{{Short description|Old French romance about the life of Muhammad}}

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File:Romance of Muhammad.png

The Romance of Muhammad ({{langx|fro|Li romans de Mahon|link=no}} or {{lang|fro|Roman de Mahomet}}) is an Old French romance about the life of Muhammad in octosyllabic couplets. It was written by Alexandre du Pont in 1258 in Laon based on the earlier {{lang|la-x-medieval|Otia de Machomete}}, a Latin poem by Walter of Compiègne.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|pp=1–2}} At 1,996 verses, it is almost twice as long as the {{lang|la-x-medieval|Otia}}.{{sfn|Tolan|2012}} It is preserved in a single manuscript in Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, fonds français 1553, from the late 13th century.{{sfn|Tolan|2012}}{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=18}}

The Romance can be broadly divided into six sections: Muhammad's education and meeting with the Christian hermit; his courtship and marriage; the private confirmation of his prophetic mission; public announcement of his prophethood and issuing of the law; the war with Persia; and Muhammad's death.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|pp=13–17}} It is written for a Christian lay audience.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|pp=2–3}} It is an essentially fictional account designed to ridicule Muhammad, although its depiction of him as "a clever scoundrel, eloquent suitor, and respected leader is not wholly unsympathetic."{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=5}} It contains numerous inaccuracies and anachronisms, such as Greek fire and jongleurs.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=4}} It diverges from the {{lang|la-x-medieval|Otia}} in only a few cases, which demonstrate Alexandre's familiarity with the Apology of al-Kindi.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=7}} The limited diffusion of the work suggests that its content was too unusual for its intended audience.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=17}}

Nothing is known of Alexandre du Pont beyond what he reveals about himself: his name and the date and place of his work.{{sfn|Tolan|2012}} He does exhibit a tendency to sermonize and should perhaps be associated with the cathedral school of Laon.{{sfn|Hyatte|1997|p=2}}