Guilhem de Montanhagol
Guilhem or Guillem (de) Montanhagol or Montaignagol (fl. 1233–1268) was a Provençal troubadour, most likely active in Toulouse, but known in the courts of Provence, Toulouse, Castile, and Aragon.[1][2] Guilhem left behind seven cansos and six sirventes.[2] He also left behind one tenso (specifically, a partimen) with Sordello (perhaps suggesting a brief sojourn in Lombardy) and his total surviving output comes to fourteen pieces.[1][2]
The meaning of Guilhem's name has been debated. "Montanhagol" means "from Montanhac", but it is not known which Montanhac that could be.[3] For a long time it was thought that the correct form of the troubadour's name was simply "Guilhem Montanhagol", since the "de" (of) would be redundant.[4] Contemporary documents, however, clearly use "de".[4]
He was of humble birth.[1] According to his vida he was from Provence, though some modern scholars suspect he was a Toulousain.[1][3] His vida records that he was "a good inventor (trobaire) of poetry, and a great lover."[3] His lover was a lady named Jauseranda from Lunel, the lord of which castle, Raymond Gaucelm V, Guilhem probably knew.[3]
His cansos are awkward, and he emulated the earlier troubadours, praising mezura (moderation) among all the virtues.[1] He stated that "from love proceeds chastity" (d'amor mou castitatz), which may mean no more than that love is necessary for fidelity.[2][5] He has been viewed as a precursor of the Dolce Stil Novo and as an important link between Occitan and Italian literature through his work with Sordello.[5] He has been credited with an innovative picture of courtly love blended with Christian morality.[5]
Guilhem's political sirventes concern Toulousain and Spanish politics.[1] Writing in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade which devastated Languedoc, Guilhem was an opponent of the Papal Inquisition, though not of the Church itself.[1] He encouraged the gentle correction of the Cathars, but not their violent suppression by means of war.[2]
Guilhem was grieved in a planh written by his brother-in-law Pons Santolh.[2]
Works
- A Lunel lutz una luna luzens
- Ar ab lo coinde pascor
- Del tot vey remaner valor
- Bel m'es quan d'armatz aug refrim
- Ges, per malvastat qu'er veya
- Leu chansoneta m'er a far
- No sap per que va son joy pus tarzan
- Non an tan dig li primier trobador
- Non estarai, per ome qe-m casti
- Nulhs hom no val ni deu esser prezatz
- On mais a hom de valensa
- Per lo mon fan li un dels autres rancura
- Qui vol esser agradans e plazens
- Senh'En Sordel, mandamen
References
Bibliography
- Egan, Margarita, ed. The Vidas of the Troubadours. New York: Garland, 1984. ISBN 0 8240 9437 9.
- Gaunt, Simon, and Kay, Sarah. "Appendix I: Major Troubadours" (pp. 279–291). The Troubadours: An Introduction. Simon Gaunt and Sarah Kay, edd. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. ISBN 0 521 574730.
- Paden, William D. "Guilhem de Montanhagol" (p. 425). Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, ed. William W. Kibler. New Jersey: Routledge University Press, 1995. ISBN 0 82404 444 4.
- Riquer, Martín de. Los trovadores: historia literaria y textos. 3 vol. Barcelona: Planeta, 1975.
- Topsfield, L. T. "The Theme of Courtly Love in the Poems of Guilhem de Montanhagol." French Studies, 11 (1957), 127–34.
External links
- Complete works at Trobar.org