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| Yvain, the Knight of the Lion | |
|---|---|
 Anonymous 13th century fresco, depicting a scene from "Iwein" (Rodenegg Castle) | |
| Original title | French: Yvain ou le Chevalier au Lion |
| Author(s) | Chrétien de Troyes |
| Language | Old French |
| Date | between 1178 and 1181 |
| Provenance | County of Champagne |
| Genre | Chivalric romance |
| Verse form | Octosyllable rhyming couplets |
| Length | 6,818 lines |
| Subject | Arthurian legend |
Yvain, the Knight of the Lion (French: Yvain ou le Chevalier au Lion) is an Arthurian romance by French poet Chrétien de Troyes. It was written c. 1180 simultaneously with Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart, and includes several references to the narrative of that poem. It is a story of knight-errantry, in which the protagonist Yvain is first rejected by his lady for breaking a very important promise, and subsequently performs a number of heroic deeds in order to regain her favour. The poem has been adapted into several other medieval works, including Iwein and Owain, or the Lady of the Fountain.