Arthur s’en va-t-en guerre Expéditions navales dans les romans arthuriens en vers des xii^e et xiii^e siècles

Arthurian verse romances almost never describe naval warfare. Equipped with swords and lances, mounted on horses, knights can only wage war on land. Cligès, by Chrétien de Troyes, Méraugis de Portlesguez by Raoul de Houdenc, and the anonymous Floriant et Florete are among the very few thirteenth-century Arthurian verse romances picturing Arthur taking to the sea with his army. Yet far from leading to heroic feats, sea crossing is dangerous and landing most perilous when attempted under attack.