“La ascención cortés de Apolonio”

Abstract

The well-known brilliance of the anonymous Libro de Apolonio, the mid-thirteenth century vernacular version of the Historia Apollonii Regis Tyri is distinguished by the high literary stylization of the most significant motifs, and among them the initial incest gemination in the main episodes, as has been suggested by several scholars, such as C. Calvert Phipps and A. Deyermond. However, a part of criticism downplays the reverberation of this incest in one particular case, the musical evening in Pentapolin’s court, while other critics stress its echoes in other episodes without taking into account this one. On the contrary, it is necessary to give a comprehensive dimension to the ‘constructive incest’ between the king Architrastes and his daughter Luciana, together with the projection of this love within the courtly behaviour of Apolonio. The successive steps and offbeats before Apolonio’s concert deliver detailed images which spotlight a subtle game of charm, manipulation and acute perceptions among the three characters. All of this leads Apolonio to obtain the best crown from Architrastes, not only as king of Tyre, which allows him because of his recovered kingship to play music, but as the symbolic king of Pentapolin too, becoming father by transference, master and lover of the princess. The hero achieves this honour because of his ascent in courtly hierarchy, from being of a wretched foreigner to a male bonding with the king, and in his homophilia’s climb may be appreciated the author’s mastery over the poetic and narrative devices.