Protheselaus

Protheselaus is a verse romance composed in Anglo-Norman by Hue de Rotelande at the end of the 12th century. Hue lived at Credenhill near Hereford, according to his earlier poem "Ipomedon". "Protheselaus" is dedicated to Hue's patron Gilbert fitzBaderon, lord of Monmouth. Gilbert died in or just before 1191: that date is a terminus ante quem for the completion of "Protheselaus".
It is a sequel to "Ipomedon" in the same sense in which sequels were composed to the chansons de geste: Protheselaus is introduced as the son of Ipomedon, he has adventures that are similar to his father's, and faces similar problems. He is deprived of his inheritance. He is in love with Medea and believes (wrongly, it appears) that she hates him. With the help of Dardanus and Melander he attempts to conciliate her and travels through distant lands to prove his knightly prowess, then returns and enters her service in disguise. He travels to Burgundy, defends Ismeine, is made prisoner by the "Maiden of the Isle" ("Pucele de l'Isle"), finally escapes, recovers his inheritance and marries Medea.
Although "Protheselaus" is a continuation of the story of "Ipomedon" it has a different atmosphere In "Ipomedonte" auctor. In place of the satire, burlesque and occasional eroticism of "Ipomedon" the characters in "Protheselaus" -- especially the hero himself and his friends Dardanus and Melander -- are virtuous, selfless, and motivated by concern for the wellbeing of others. By contrast with "Ipomedon", "Protheselaus" attracted relatively few readers in later times and was not translated into other languages. 