Ruggiero (character)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Ruggiero (often translated Rogero in English) is a leading fictional character in the Italian romantic epics Orlando innamorato by Matteo Maria Boiardo and Orlando furioso by Ludovico Ariosto.
He is the son of a Christian knight and a Saracen lady and is a descendant of Hector. When Ruggiero's mother is killed, he is nursed by a lioness then brought up by the wizard Atlante in Africa. Atlante has heard a prophecy that Ruggiero is destined to die young through treachery, but he is unable to prevent Ruggiero from joining the Saracen army in its invasion of Europe. Ruggiero falls in love with the female Christian knight Bradamante but he is held captive by the enchantress Alcina on her magic island, until he is freed by the good sorceress Melissa. He rescues the maiden Angelica, who has been offered as a sacrifice to a water-dwelling orc. Finally, he is baptised into Christianity, and marries Bradamante. Rodomonte appears at the wedding feast and accuses Ruggiero of betraying the Saracen cause. The two knights duel, ending in Rodomonte's death.
Ruggiero appears in several operas, including La liberazione di Ruggiero (1625) by Francesca Caccini and Alcina (1735) by Handel.
