Medieval France
(1338–1400). Notary and master historian of Liège, Jean has left its story in three distinct versions: a relatively short and sober Chronique en bref, which may constitute his notes for the more extensive works; a highly romanticized, unfinished poetic text, the Geste de Liège, in the form of a chanson de geste (some 53,000 Alexandrine lines extant!); and the three-volume Myreur des histors in prose. The latter may originally have been projected for four volumes. His remaniement of the chanson de geste Ogier le Danois in four books has been lost. Also in four books, his immense lapidary, the Trésorier de philosophie naturelle des pierres précieuses, contains practical information on cutting and polishing gems, as well as descriptions in alphabetical order of 256 stones. The French version of Jean de Mandeville’s Voyages has been incorrectly attributed to Jean d’Outremeuse.
William W.Kibler
[See also: CHEVALERIE OGIER; LAPIDARY; MANDEVILLE, JEAN DE]
Outremeuse, Jean d’.
Ly myreur des histors, chronique de Jean des Preis dit d’Outremeuse, ed. Adolphe Borgnet and S. Bormans. 7 vols. Brussels: Hayez, 1864–87.
Goosse, A. “Ogier le Danois, chanson de geste attribuée a Jean d’Outremeuse.” Romania 86 (1965):145–98.
——. “La chronique abrégée de Jean d’Outremeuse.” Revue belge de philologie et d’histoire 32 (1954):5–50.
Lejeune, Jean. “Une source méconnue: la ‘chronique en bref’ de Jean d’Outremeuse.” Revue belge de philologie et d’histoire 34 (1956):985–1020.
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