Annick PETER-CUSTOT - Voyage dans la Pouille réelle et imaginaire

Annick PETER-CUSTOT - Voyage dans la Pouille réelle et imaginaire

by Annick Peter-Custot

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Literature & Writing DSBLiterary studies: generalDSBBLiterary studies: ancient, classical and medieval
🎙 Annick Peter-Custot 👥 157K 📅 January 28, 2026 ⏱ 50 min 👁 391 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-06
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

Apuliamedieval literatureKingdom of SicilyNormansromance

Summary

The conference by Annick Peter-Custot, professor of history at Nantes University, explores the emergence of ‘Apulia’ as a literary and political entity in medieval romances of the 12th and 13th centuries. The talk begins with a puzzling reference to a ‘Queen of Apulia’ in the romance ‘Guillaume de Dole’, which leads to a broader investigation. Peter-Custot, an historian, collaborates with literature specialist Michel Skilnik to trace the presence of Apulia in various romances, such as ‘Hippomedon’ and ‘Protesilaus’, where Apulia is depicted as a rich and desirable kingdom. The historical analysis reveals that the term ‘Apulia’ only gained institutional meaning in 1059 when Robert Guiscard was invested as Duke of Apulia by the Pope. This title evolved within the context of Norman conquests and the creation of the Kingdom of Sicily in 1130, where Apulia remained a distinct political entity. The lecture emphasizes the methodological approach of combining historical and literary analysis to understand how a real geopolitical region influenced fictional narratives. The speaker argues that the rarity of new kingdoms in the 12th century (Sicily, Portugal, Jerusalem) made Apulia a fascinating subject for romance writers. The talk concludes by suggesting that the ‘matter of Apulia’ emerged as a distinct literary theme, reflecting the political realities and imaginative appeal of southern Italy.

212 words

Critical Evaluation

The conference provides a compelling example of interdisciplinary research, combining history and literature to illuminate the cultural significance of a geographical region. The speaker’s expertise is evident, and the argument is well-supported by specific examples from medieval texts and historical events. The methodological reflection on how historians and literary scholars collaborate is valuable and adds depth to the presentation. The sources cited are primarily the primary texts themselves, and the speaker does not provide external references, which limits the verifiability of some claims. However, the logical progression from the literary puzzle to the historical explanation is convincing. The title accurately reflects the content, and the presentation is clear and engaging. The main weakness is the lack of explicit citations and the reliance on the speaker’s authority, which is acceptable for a lecture but not for a formal academic paper. Overall, the talk offers a nuanced understanding of how a real political entity becomes a literary topos, and it encourages further research into the ‘matter of Apulia’.

166 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores both the historical reality and the literary imagination of Apulia in medieval romances.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The speaker is a professor of history at Nantes University, and the content is based on collaborative research with a literature specialist. The argument is well-structured, uses primary sources (medieval romances) and historical evidence, and demonstrates methodological rigor. However, the presentation is a lecture without formal citations or peer-reviewed references, and some claims are based on interpretations.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Nantes Université LinkedIn — Official LinkedIn page of Nantes Université, where the conference was hosted.
  • Nantes Université YouTube Channel — YouTube channel of Nantes Université, where the video is published.

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The conference offers a novel interdisciplinary perspective on the emergence of ‘Apulia’ as a literary and political concept in medieval romances. By combining historical analysis with literary criticism, the speaker demonstrates how a real geopolitical entity influenced fictional narratives, suggesting the existence of a ‘matter of Apulia’ distinct from other literary cycles. This approach provides a model for studying the interplay between history and literature.

Pour aller plus loin :

117 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quantity and quality of information, reflecting the rich content and scholarly approach. The technical level is moderately high, suitable for an academic audience. The overall reliability is strong, given the speaker's expertise, though the lack of formal citations slightly lowers the score.

Reliability 8/10

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