THE French Otinel tradition is represented far more sparsely than Fierabras in the corpus of manuscripts: only one continental and one Anglo-Norman witness survive as more or less complete manuscripts, and there are significant lacunae in the continental version. There are also two fragments, the longer of which (known as the ‘Mende’ fragment) is Anglo-Norman; it is difficult to ascertain the dialect of the shorter fragment, which runs to a mere four lines. Still, evidence of the reception of the narrative through adaptations, imitations and allusions in insular Charlemagne-related texts points to a wider circulation than this sparse corpus might suggest. The little critical attention the chanson de geste has received has not been generous to the text. The rather dismissive evaluation of its editors was that ‘Il n'y faut chercher aucune de ces beautés natives qui éclatent dans les plus anciennes chansons de geste. C'est une oeuvre de la décadence.’ The only major study of the poem, by Paul Aebischer in 1960, is more concerned with its origins than its literary value. A few more recent studies have seen some merit in its use of intertextual echoes and its treatment of some specific themes.

Otinel opens with the Saracen messenger, Otinel, arriving at Charlemagne's court. There he announces that his king, Garsie, has attacked Rome and aggressively calls upon Charlemagne to convert. Otinel challenges Roland to individual combat, and during the subsequent fight between them, as representatives of their respective religions, God sends His Holy Spirit to convert Otinel, who is baptized and subsequently betrothed to Charlemagne's daughter Belissant. Otinel joins Charlemagne's army as they set off to make war against Garsie. Roland, Oliver and Ogier capture the noble Saracen Clarel in a skirmish but on their way back they are attacked by 1,500 Saracens, who rescue Clarel and take Ogier prisoner, putting him in the charge of Affamie, Garsie's daughter. Meanwhile, Otinel has set out in search of the missing peers and engages in battle. He fights with Clarel, whom he defeats and kills. A general battle follows and Ogier, who has escaped from his captors, joins in. Otinel takes on Garsie, who is defeated and taken prisoner. Finally, Otinel marries Belissant and becomes king.