Errant knights in the Work of Feliciano de Silva: Between Tolerance and Religious Relativism

Abstract

The article focuses on the paradigm shift in religious matters that takes place in some of the continuations of the Amadis cycle written by Feliciano de Silva. Firstly, the conservative principles of the cavalry followed in Lisuarte de Grecia are described, and then, by way of contrast, a whole range of attitudes towards religion that appear from Amadís de Grecia to the fourth part of Florisel de Niquea. In this context, between the knights and the princesses, several positions arise that exceed the limits of what is acceptable in a society of old Christians. Religious relativism only characterizes pagan characters, and some of them end up being baptized moved by pragmatic or more critical reasons (love). On the other hand, although it is true that none of the Christians renounces their faith or is willing to do so, several unacceptable mistakes are made. The knight pretends to be of another religion, have sexual relations with idolatrous women or commits bigamy when living in a marriage with a pagan, even knowing that it thus offends God. However, the most considerable case among those mentioned is that of the fictitious author of the saga, Galersis, about whom it is stated that he not only rejects the proposal to convert but decides to live until the end of his days in his pagan law.