Jean Bodel

Jean Bodel, who lived in the late twelfth century, was an Old French poet who wrote a number of chansons de geste. He lived in Arras.

Bodel wrote the Chanson des Saisnes, about the war of King Charlemagne with the Saxons and their leader Widukind, whom Bodel calls Guiteclin. He also wrote a miracle play called the Jeu de Saint Nicolas, which tells a story of how St Nicholas forces some thieves to restore a stolen treasure.

Bodel was the first person of record to classify the legendary themes and literary cycles known to medieval literature into the Matter of Rome, tales of classical antiquity; the Matter of Britain, concering King Arthur; and the Matter of France, concerning Charlemagne and his paladins.

In 1202, Bodel contracted leprosy and entered a leprosarium.