Nicholas of Bray (or Nicolas de Brai [a]) was a French clergyman and poet who wrote a Latin epic on the deeds of King Louis VIII of France (1223–1226), the Gesta Ludovici VIII. [1]
Nicholas is probably to be identified with the Nicholas who is recorded as the dean of the collegiate chapter in Bray-sur-Seine in 1202. He dedicated the Gesta to William of Auvergne, bishop of Paris (1228–1249). [1] [2] The only copy of the Gesta today is a copy made by André Duchesne in the 17th century. [1]
The Gesta is 1,870 lines long, but is incomplete as it stands. [2] It centres around the siege of La Rochelle in 1224 and the siege of Avignon in 1226. [1] [2] One line suggests that he was present at Avignon. [3] Nicholas imitates Ovid's Metamorphoses, introducing thereby much classical mythology, but still contains some useful information for the historian. [2] On the whole, the Gesta reveals more about mores and customs than historical events. [3]
Nicholas of Bray (or Nicolas de Brai [a]) was a French clergyman and poet who wrote a Latin epic on the deeds of King Louis VIII of France (1223–1226), the Gesta Ludovici VIII. [1]
Nicholas is probably to be identified with the Nicholas who is recorded as the dean of the collegiate chapter in Bray-sur-Seine in 1202. He dedicated the Gesta to William of Auvergne, bishop of Paris (1228–1249). [1] [2] The only copy of the Gesta today is a copy made by André Duchesne in the 17th century. [1]
The Gesta is 1,870 lines long, but is incomplete as it stands. [2] It centres around the siege of La Rochelle in 1224 and the siege of Avignon in 1226. [1] [2] One line suggests that he was present at Avignon. [3] Nicholas imitates Ovid's Metamorphoses, introducing thereby much classical mythology, but still contains some useful information for the historian. [2] On the whole, the Gesta reveals more about mores and customs than historical events. [3]