Tradition: French Mythology
Alternative Names: Oriande of Rosefleur
Category: Fairy
The Myth
Oriande was a powerful fairy who took the abandoned child Maugis, son of Beuves d’Aigremont, under her protection. After Maugis had been abducted by Sorgalant and later found by Oriande, she raised him at Rosefleur, or Rocheflor, near Mongibel on Mount Etna in Sicily. She became his guardian and guide, nurturing him until he was ready to enter the world of heroic adventure.
When Maugis had grown, Oriande set him a great trial to prove his abilities and establish his status as a true hero. She commanded him to free the miraculous horse Bayard, which was imprisoned beneath the volcanic island of Bocan, or Boucam, traditionally associated with the Lipari Islands. Maugis succeeded in overcoming the supernatural challenge and released the extraordinary horse from its underground prison.
Sources
“Oriande.” Wikipédia, l’encyclopédie libre (French Wikipedia). Wikimedia Foundation. Accessed October 5, 2026. Wikipedia
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriande