The Trobairitz

Among the troubadours, male poets and musicians, and their songs of chivalry and courtly love, a distinct and sometimes overlooked voice emerged—the trobairitz. These female poets from the southern region of medieval France challenged the societal norms of their time through their poetic compositions. While their male counterparts dominated the troubadour tradition, the trobairitz created a space for themselves, expressing themes of love, desire, pleasure, and longing with a new perspective--a female one. The trobairitz within medieval literature, their contributions to the troubadour tradition, and the challenges they faced as women in a patriarchal society are important to understanding women in courtly love. 

The trobairitz emerged alongside the rise of troubadour poetry in the 12th century. Troubadours composed poetry in Old Occitan, the language of Southern France during this time, celebrating courtly love. However, within this tradition from the male perspective, women were often only in the role of being objects of desire, and their voices, their feelings, and their desires were not considered. The trobairitz challenged this narrative, establishing their agency and creativity through their compositions.

The trobairitz embraced the traditions of courtly love poetry while adding a female perspective to their songs, or cansos in Old Occitan. Their poems often explored themes of unrequited love, longing, and the complexities of romantic relationships. Unlike their male counterparts, who idealized women as unattainable objects of desire. The trobairitz portrayed themselves as actively participating in love affairs, expressing their desires, frustrations, and vulnerabilities. Also, they considered the feelings of men rather than ignoring them and viewing men as being objects of desire. One of the notable characteristics of trobairitz poetry is the emotional depth and introspection. Their poetry reflects an awareness of the complexities of interpersonal relationships, challenging traditional notions of gender roles and power dynamics.

One of the most notable trobairitz is La Comtessa de Dia. She is known by this name in our time but her name was likely Beatritz or Isoarda. She lived in southern France and composed songs about her lover, Raimbaut of Orange, a lord. She was also married to another man while performing songs about her lover. She wrote the poem “Estat ai en greu cossirier” which translates to “I have been sorely troubled.” This poem has several key components of courtly love, such as the knight as a lover and her desire for him to take the place of her husband, but only if he does everything she wants him to do. Indicating that she has found romance outside of marriage and she has some control over him. Another component is comparing her relationship to the relationship of Floris and Blachefleur, a fictional couple in a romance story. Literature is a big aspect of the courtly love tradition. Throughout this poem, she is describing her desires for her lover and how she has suffered: 

“I have been sorely troubled

about a knight I had;

I want it known for all time

how exceedingly I loved him.

Now I see myself betrayed

because I didn’t grant my love

to him; I’ve suffered much distress

from it, in bed and fully clothed.

I’d like to hold my knight

in my arms one evening, naked,

for he’d be overjoyed

were I only serving as his pillow, 

and I am more pleased with him

than Floris with his Blanchaflor.

To him I grant my heart, my love, 

my mind, my eyes, my life.

Fair, agreeable, good friend,

when will I have you in my power, 

lie beside you for an evening, 

and kiss you amorously? 

Be sure I’d feel a strong desire

to have you in my husband’s place

provided you had promised me 

to do everything I wished.”