Ascapart (also spelled ''Ascupart'', ''Ascapard'', ''Ascopard'', ''Ascopart'' and ''Asgapard'') was a legendary

giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...

from

English folklore English folklore consists of the myths and legends of England, including the region's Legendary creature, mythical creatures, traditional recipes, urban legends, proverbs, superstitions, Folk dance, dance, balladry, and Folklore, folktales tha ...

, supposedly conquered by

Bevis of Hampton Bevis of Hampton ( or or ; Anglo-Norman: ; ) or Sir Bevois was a legendary English hero and the subject of Anglo-Norman, Dutch, French, English, Venetian,Hasenohr, 173–4. and other medieval metrical chivalric romances that bear his name. ...

Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Berkshire to the north, Surrey and West Sussex to the east, the Isle of Wight across the Solent to the south, ...

and the

New Forest The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featu ...

; large medieval paintings of Sir Bevis and Ascupart can be found in the Southampton

Bargate The Bargate is a Grade I listed medieval gatehouse in the city centre of Southampton, England. Constructed in Norman times as part of the Southampton town walls, it was the main gateway to the city. The building is a scheduled monument, which ...

Monument Gallery.

Legend

Ascapart was a legendary

from

, supposedly conquered by

, though so huge as to carry Bevis, his wife, and horse under his arm. He was 30 feet tall but the smallest of his land, and was defeated after his club (made from a whole tree) was swung at Sir Bevis and became stuck in soft ground. Rather than slaying the giant however, Sir Bevis decided to make him his Squire. Later Ascapart betrayed Bevis and took his wife Josiane, who was imprisoned with Ascapart as her jailer. For this Ascapart was killed by Bevis' friends when they freed Josiane. Ascapart was supposedly buried under Bevis Mount, or his body became a part of the South Downs when he fell. The name Ascapardes may refer to "A desert people of the near east" according to the Middle English Dictionary.

David Foster Wallace David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his 1996 novel ''Infinite Jest'', which ''Time (magazine), Time'' magazine ...

coined the adjective ascapartic in his novel ''

Infinite Jest ''Infinite Jest'' is a 1996 novel by American writer David Foster Wallace. Categorized as an encyclopedic novel, ''Infinite Jest'' is featured in ''Time'' magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels published between 1923 and 2005. ...

'', in reference to this giant. Alongside the story of Bevis of Hampton, the giant appears in the local folklore of

and the

; large medieval painted oak panels of Sir Bevis and Ascupart can be found in the Southampton

Monument Gallery (apparently 17th century restorations of early 14th century originals). he borough of Southampton: General historical account http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42036 ''A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3.'' Victoria County History, London, 1908. Footnote 50. A large sculpture of Ascupard by Mark Antony Haden Ford, the Giant’s Head, is in Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

References

External links

Ascupart's Children
Black History in the greater Southampton region 1500-1900, talk by historian Cheryl Butler {{Bevis of Hampton English giants Bevis of Hampton Hampshire folklore