Précieuse

For the 17th century French intellectual phenomenon, see Précieuses.

Précieuse (French for precious) is the sword of Baligant, the Saracen king in the French epic The Song of Roland.[1]

Baligant allegedly named his sword in response to hearing that Charlemagne's sword had a name. Throughout the epic, there are several contrasts between the two, with Baligant being portrayed as a foolish counterpart to Charlemagne. Baligant felt inferior, and so named his sword with a similar name.

References

  1. Sayers, Dorothy L., translator (1957). The Song of Roland. Hammondsworth, Middlesex, England: Penguin Books. p. 38. ISBN 0-14-044075-5.


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