Bertrand of Thrace
A knight of Emperor Alis who accidentally discovered the hidden refuge of Cligés and Fenice, bringing their secret to an end.
Introduction#
Bertrand of Thrace was a knight in the service of Emperor Alis in Chrétien’s Cligés. His accidental discovery of Cligés and Fenice brought an end to the lovers’s secret life in hiding and set the final events of the romance in motion.
Affiliations | Imperial Court of Greece and Constantinople
A Knight of the Empire#
Bertrand was described as a young knight from Thrace who served the imperial court of Greece and Constantinople. Chrétien presents him as noble, courteous, and spirited, giving no indication that he acted from malice or personal ambitions.
Although Bertrand appears only briefly, his actions raise important questions about loyalty, justice, and honour within the romance.
The Discovery#
While pursuing his sparrowhawk near Constantinople, Bertrand accidentally crossed into the secluded garden where Cligés and Fenice had been living in secret following the empress’s feigned death.
There he unexpectedly discovered the supposedly dead Fenice together with her lover.
Wounded by Cligés#
Realising that their secret had been exposed, Cligés attacked Bertrand and severed one of his legs below the knee. Despite his grievous wound, Bertrand managed to escape and report what he had witnessed to Emperor Alis.
His revelation forced Cligés and Fenice to abandon their refuge and seek protection at King Arthur’s court.
Literary Significance#
Bertrand occupies a morally ambiguous place within Cligés. From Cligés’ perspective, his discovery threatens the lovers’ future, yet Bertrand himself acts only as a loyal knight fulfilling his duty to his emperor after accidentally uncovering the truth.
His fate reflects one of the romance’s recurring tensions between personal love and feudal loyalty. While readers sympathise with Cligés and Fenice, Bertrand is arguably the innocent party in the encounter, making the loss of his leg one of the more unsettling moments in Chrétien’s narrative.
Sources#
Cligés | Chrétien de Troyes, late 12th century
