Fauvel

Fauvel is the central figure of Le Roman de Fauvel, a French satirical allegory compiled around 1310–1314. The work presents a broad social critique of politics and the church in early 14th-century France.

In the narrative, Fauvel, a horse, rises to power through the flattery of courtiers and the manipulation of those around him; his ascent serves as a warning about the corrupting influence of fame, wealth, and political scheming. The poem uses personifications and allegory to critique vice rather than to propose a realistic history.

Musically, Le Roman de Fauvel is notable for incorporating a large collection of medieval songs and polyphonic works by composers of the Ars Nova such as Machaut, making it an important source for late medieval music as well as literature.

Scholars view Fauvel as a cultural symbol of opportunism and flattery; the term “Fauvel” in scholarly discourse is used to refer to the allegorical figure or to the satirical mood of the work. The manuscript tradition includes varying versions and supplements; it influenced later satire and a tradition of allegorical animal figures in literature.