Amadís << AM uh dihs >> of Gaul is a famous Spanish romance of chivalry. It may have appeared in Spain in the 1300’s, but the first preserved version, The Four Books of the Virtuous Knight Amadís of Gaul, was published in 1508. At least part of the work is attributed to Garci Ordóñez (or Rodríguez) de Montalvo.
The story describes the adventures of a romantic, brave, modest hero named Amadís. His aristocratic manners and strict sense of justice reveal a Renaissance interpretation of the ideal medieval knight. The story is marked by flowery prose. The episodes deal with spectacular and fantastic events, including knightly duels, magic spells, and fierce combat with giants and dragons. Young Amadís loves Princess Oriana and, despite many obstacles and temptations, remains faithful to her until their marriage. The Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes was influenced by Amadís in creating Don Quixote.
