The Werewolf Timeline 1000-1500
1000 - 1500
1182: Giraldus Cambrensis was a 12th-century Welsh historian and clergyman who wrote extensively about his travels through Ireland. In his writings, Giraldus Cambrensis relates an encounter he had with a group of people in Ireland who were believed to be werewolves. According to Giraldus Cambrensis, these people transformed into wolves during the Yuletide feast, a celebration that took place around the winter solstice. This legend suggests that the werewolf myth was prevalent in Ireland during this time and that the transformation into a wolf was associated with specific rituals or celebrations.
1194-1197: Guillaume de Palerne was a French poet and writer who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He is best known for his romance poem "Guillaume de Palerne," which tells the story of a knight who is able to transform into a wolf. The poem is an important example of the way that the werewolf myth was used in literature during this period, and it helped to popularize the idea of lycanthropy in Europe.
1198: Marie de France was a 12th-century French poet and writer who is known for her lais, or short narrative poems. One of her most famous lais is "Bisclavret," which tells the story of a nobleman who is able to transform into a wolf. In the lai, Bisclavret's wife takes advantage of his lycanthropy and steals his clothes, trapping him in wolf form. The lai is an early example of the way that the werewolf myth was used in literature to explore themes of identity and transformation.
1250: The "Lai de Melion" is a medieval French poem that tells the story of a knight named Melion who is able to transform into a wolf. The poem is an example of the way that the werewolf myth was used in literature to explore themes of chivalry and honor. The "Lai de Melion" is notable for its depiction of Melion as a tragic hero who is punished for his lycanthropy, and it is an important example of the way that the werewolf myth was used in literature during the Middle Ages.