Barlaam et Josaphat

A popular medieval hagiographic story, adapted to a Christian framework from the story of Buddha, recounting the conversion of an Indian prince Josaphat by Barlaam, a monk. Josaphat converts his father; then, on inheriting the kingdom, he leaves the secular world and dies a holy man. As well as numerous Latin versions of the story from the 12th c. onwards, there are three (plus a fragment) in Old French from the 13th c. and one in Occitan from the 14th c.

[Sarah Kay]