Salut d'amour

The Salut d'amour ( French love greeting , also Minnesalut or Minnegruß ) is a lyrical genre of old Provencal poetry. Similar to the Minnebrief and later genres such as the epistolary novel , he poetically shapes the intimacy of a - here literary-fictional - love relationship. Through its dissemination in the north French poetry of the Middle Ages, it took up elements of stanzas and the song-like refrain , which is why the transition to the Complainte d'amour is fluid. The separation from Sirventes as an order seal is also not clearly delimited.

The verse of the Salut d'amour is eight-syllable, the formal structure is three-part. The mostly fixed introductory formula “salut” is followed by an introduction, then the confession of love with the price of the mistress of love , finally a final part. The form has a clear letter character, as the sender often calls himself by name - which is quite unusual for medieval poets - and dates can be found. Some salutes that have been received are also formally reminiscent of personal messages, as they were folded like letters.

Arnaud de Mareuil is believed to be the creator and master of the Salut d'amour . Of 19 texts that have survived to date, at least five have been ascribed to him.