 The libretto was to be an adaptation and partial translation of the composer's original 1843 Italian opera, "I Lombardi alla prima crociata".It was the one opera which he regarded as the most suitable for being translated into French and, taking Eugène Scribe's advice, Verdi agreed that a French libretto was to be prepared by Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz, who had written the libretto for Donizetti's most successful French opera, "La favorite".The opera received its premiere performance at the Salle Le Peletier in Paris on 26 November 1847.