Courtly Love

part I:  The Origins

by Lady Branwen of House Raven's Moon

As February begins and the Valentine's Revel fast approaches, an
appropriate yet little discussed topic comes to mind; "Fin Amors" or
"Fine Love".  Although  our society is based in part on the ideals of
chivalry and courtliness, most good gentles do not know the origins and
rules of one of their critical components: The Art of Courtly Love.

The ideals of courtly love first developed in Occitania (southern
France) in the late 11th century. Guilhem, VII Count of Poitiers and IX
Duke of Aquitaine (1071-1127) is the earliest troubadour of whom we
have any surviving works.  Written in Provencal instead of Latin, these
works display new ideas and ideals not previously present in Medieval
Europe.  The French however, can not be single-handedly credited with
the invention of "fin amors".

In the late 11th century, Europe experienced the first Crusade.  This
vast movement created many  profound changes in the cultural, economic,
and social structures of Medieval Europe. One of these changes was a
shift in the role of women.  During the first Crusade, many noble women
(including Phillipia, wife of Guilhem of Aquitaine) became regents,
while their husbands were off following Pope Urban II's call.

Other women went on the crusades themselves.  In either case, this
altered the role of women in society.  The Occitanian crusaders may
also have been exposed to, and influenced by Ibn Hazm's "The Arabic
Ring of the Dove" (1022), which contained many of the ideas we have
come to associate with the courtly love movement.  One of the ideas he
expresses is: "The surprising thing which happens in love is the
submissivness of the lover to his beloved."   Another is: "True love
has an ennobling influence upon the lover."

The roots of courtly love can be traced even further,  to Ovid writing
in Rome in the 1st century BC during the reign of Emperor Augustus.
Ovid wrote several poems: "The Art of Love", "The Cure for Love", and
"Amours".  During the time of the rise of the troubadours, these works
were  available in both Latin and the vernacular.  In the courts of
Occitania, the literate nobles were undoubtedly influenced by this
ancient Roman's writing.  Some of his ideas which can be seen in the
movement are: 1) Love is warfare, and every lover a soldier; 2) Under
Cupid are the women whose power over men is absolute; 3) To please her
he must ... undergo all sorts of hardships and perform all sorts of
absurd actions.  These ideas can clearly be seen in Andreas Capellanus'
"The Art of Courtly Love"  written in the late 12th century for
Countess Marie de Champagne, daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine (who was
the granddaughter of Guilhem of Aquitaine).

Although the courtly love movement was influenced by external factors,
it developed into something unique in its own right.  In a society
where women rarely had any real power, it is an interesting reversal
for them to be found in art with great power and prestige, with men as
"their slaves".

For a greater look at the rules and history of courtly love, the
troubadours, trobaritz (female troubadours), etc, join me for a class
on courtly love on Thursday February 13th, 7pm at House Raven's Moon
(85 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, Apt. 4a, buzzer 22, 718-636-6341).

Bibliography:

The Women Troubadours, Meg Bogin (1980), W.W. Norton & Co, Inc.

The Book Of Courtly Love, Andrea Hopkins (1994), HarperSanFransisco.

The Art Of Courtly Love, Andreas Capellanus (11th c) translated by John
Jay Parry (1941)  Columbia University Press.

Troubadour & Trouvere Songs, George Guy, Lyrichord Early Music Series
(CD) Grolier Encyclopedia, 1995, Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.


from the February 1997 Seahorse