douzepere

plural douzeperes

1. obsoleteObsolete spelling of douzeper.

   Cortine, Corteyne, or Cortayn was the name given to the sword of Ogier, one of the celebrated Douzeperes of Charlemagne.

   1883, [Robert Hunter], “*cūr-têin, *cūr-tā′-na”, in The Encyclopædic Dictionary: A New and Original Work of Reference to All the Words in the English Language, […], volume II, part II, London; Paris: Cassell, Petter, Galpin, & Co. […], →OCLC, page 625, column 1

   3 more examples

   The Frenche kyng that ſucceded his father at the kalendes of Aprill, the .xxv. day of July, cometh to Rains to be crowned. […] After reſorte to the churche thoſe that are called the Douzeperes of Fraunce, which are twelue in nomber. The Byſhop of Rains, Landune, Langres, Beauuois, Noion and Challon, Than the kyng of Nauarre, the Dukes of Uandome, Guiſe, Niuerne, Mompenſer, and Inmalle. Theſe repreſented the Dukes of Burgundie, Normandie and Guienne, moreouer the Erles of Tolouſe, Flaunders and Champaine. Of the Byſhoppes were choſen two, Langres and Beauuois, alſo two Cardinalles, to go fetche the kyng to the church, […]

   1560, [Johannes Sleidanus], “The Nyntenth Booke of Sleidanes Commentaryes, Concerning the State of Religion, and the Common Weale, during the Reigne of the Empyre of Charles the Fyfte”, in Ihon Daus [i.e., John Daus], transl., A Famovse Cronicle of Oure Time, Called Sleidanes Commentaries, Concerning the State of Religion and Common Wealth, during the Raigne of the Emperour Charles the Fift, […], London: […] Ihon Daye, for Abraham Veale, and Nicholas England. […], →OCLC, folio ccxcij, verso

   Ferumbras, despising Oliver's youthful appearance, tries to frighten him[…]; asks him to describe Charles [i.e., Charlemagne] and the douzeperes[…]; and enquires his name[…]. Oliver declaring himself to be a poor knight, Ferumbras derides him, and bids him return and send Roland, or another of the douzeperes[…].

   1879, “Sketch of the Story of ‘Sir Ferumbras’”, in Sidney J[ohn Hervon] Herrtage, editor, Sir Ferumbras. Edited from the Unique Paper Ms. about 1380 A.D. in the Bodleian Library (Ashmole Ms. 33) (The English Charlemagne Romances; part I; Extra Series; XXXIV), London: Published for the Early English Text Society, by Trübner & Co., […], →OCLC, page xxix

   Cousin to the conqueror [King Arthur], as he knows well, / Known by official record as knight of his chamber / And acknowledged the mightiest king of all the Round Table. / I [Gawain] am the douzepere and duke he dubbed with his hands / In due ceremony one day before all his dear lords.

   1973 September, John Gardner, “The Alliterative Morte Arthure”, in The Alliterative Morte Arthure, The Owl and the Nightingale and Five Other Middle English Poems in a Modernized Version […] (Arcturus Books; AB116), Carbondale; Edwardsville, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press; London; Amsterdam: Feffer & Simons, →ISBN, page 70, lines 2639–2643