"Inspiration from Actual Medieval "Fantasy"?" Topic

I'm interested in a low-fantasy setting that is inspired by some of the actual "fantasy" or perhaps "fantastic" stories of medieval times.

Sort of like Beowulf, but from a later medieval period just like Malory's "Death of King Arthur". This I already have but of course it is SOOO done in so many ways. Looking for something a bit different, perhaps Central or Eastern European in origin?

Would appreciate some suggestions to follow up with on research. I am certain there are plenty who know this right off the top of their heads!

Thanks!

Look at fables from the brothers grimm, Feiries,Elves, Dwarves, and wee folk are not friendly.

"Chanson du Roland" or "Poema del Cid?"

The Acritic song which details the epic feats of Digenes Akritas set in the eastern frontier of Byzantium.

@ Shagnasty
"Chanson du Roland" or "Poema del Cid?"

I thought those were "historical" in limit… no orcs, sorcerers, etc?

Well, look no further than Dante's Inferno. Then there is St. George and the Dragon. As those stories might be just considered "tales" you could look a Corineus, who was said to have slayed giants and founded Cornwall.

Nancy Farmer wrote three fantasy novels, the Sea of Trolls series, set in the 800-1000 AD period that draw heavily on Medieval folklore and mythology, which might provide some inspiration.
Elizabeth Boyer wrote several books set in Scandinavia that one reviewer characterized as books J.R.R. Tolkien would have liked to read. They feature dark elves, trolls, wizards, draugr (undead), and jotun. There are also elves, but they are not like Tolkien's elves.
Penguin books brought out a bunch of translations of Viking sagas and stories. One is Seven Viking Romances. I think there is also one book of short stories. Several of the sagas have fantasy elements, like undead, and Egil Skalla Grimsson's Saga has a hero who is half troll and something of a wizard, as well as a great warrior.

Grelber

You might like to try Tirant Lo Blanc, the Catalan romance from 1490 translated by David Rosenthal. And The Travels of Sir John Mandeville.
Maybe:
CJ Cherryh's 'Dreamstone' and 'Tree of Swords and Jewels' (the elves left) or 'Rusalka', Yvgenie' and 'Chernevog' (Russian folklore inspired)
Katherine Kerr wrote some based on Welsh(?) concepts, but given dragons are involved I'm not sure they are low magic.
Katherine Kurtz wrote the Deryni series.
Cherry Wilder – 'A Princess of the Chamelin' , 'Yorath the Wolf', and 'The Summer's King'

Poul Anderson's 3 Hearts and 3 Lions. Where the Dungeons and Dragons game took its Paladin, troll, holy sword and many other elements from.

I also recommend his Broken Sword.

It takes from the Finnish Kalevala, which is something else you should look at.

I'd second Tirant Lo Blanc and travels of Sir John Mandeville and Scandinavian sagas.

It's from the early 16th-century so may be out of your desired period, but Aristo's "Orlando Furioso" has knights, quests, wars, sorcerers, monsters, and a side trip to the Moon (to recover a plot point).