Alexander of Paris
Encyclopedia
Alexander of Paris, also known as Alexander of Bernay, was a Norman
poet
of the 12th century, who wrote Li romans d'Alexandre (Romance of Alexander), one of the first poems written in French
on the mythical exploits of Alexander the Great. It was composed in twelve-syllabled lines, called after him alexandrine
s. He was born in Bernay, Eure
.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the 12th century, who wrote Li romans d'Alexandre (Romance of Alexander), one of the first poems written in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
on the mythical exploits of Alexander the Great. It was composed in twelve-syllabled lines, called after him alexandrine
Alexandrine
An alexandrine is a line of poetic meter comprising 12 syllables. Alexandrines are common in the German literature of the Baroque period and in French poetry of the early modern and modern periods. Drama in English often used alexandrines before Marlowe and Shakespeare, by whom it was supplanted...
s. He was born in Bernay, Eure
Bernay, Eure
Bernay is a commune in the west of the Eure department about fifty km from Évreux in northern France. The city is in the Pays d'Ouche and the Lieuvin...
.