Troubadours: How Medieval Poets Invented Courtly Love

In southern France, troubadours composing in langue d'oc elevated the concept of love to a significant artistic expression, shaping the notion of courtly love (fin'amor) and leaving a lasting impact on literature, music, and contemporary love songs. The word 'troubadour' is derived from the Occitan term 'trobar,' meaning to find or invent. Largely male, these poets thrived in the liberal region of Occitania, where they enjoyed freedom of expression and occasionally engaged in political matters. Their verses celebrated women and treated love as a profound subject. The term courtly love, introduced by Gaston Paris in 1883 as 'amour courtois,' refers to Lancelot's forbidden affection for Guinevere, as illustrated by Chretien de Troyes. Prominent troubadours include William IX, Marcabru, Jaufre Rudel, and the Countess of Dia, with their influence spreading throughout Europe, supported by patrons such as Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Crusades.