Trobairitz, along with men trobairitz (commonly known as troubadours) composed and sang poetic, lyric songs from the twelfth through fourteenth centuries mainly in Provence (southern France) in the Old Occitan language. Troubadours have been wrongly understood as exclusively proponents of men-abasing courtly love. Trobairitz and troubadour songs were in fact wide-ranging. They include trenchant works of men’s sexed protest, appreciation for men’s sexuality, and frank recognition of lower bodily functions.
The names of about 460 trobairitz and troubadours are known and about 2,500 of their songs (some with melodies) have survived. Scholars common refer to specific songs as PC (trobairitz/troubadour number),(song number of the that singer), according to the work of Alfred Pillet and Henry Carstens (PC), Bibliographie der Troubadours (1933). Trobairitz / troubadour songs are commonly titled by their first line.
The troubadour Arnaut Daniel courageously stood against Truc Malec & Raimon de Durfort in refusing to kiss a woman’s ass. Fart to save lives, but no worse. … Read the post men must do anything for women: Arnaut Daniel’s medieval protest
A troubadour-husband explained to his wife that he only went in half-way because he loved her & worried about her. She insisted on her sexual entitlement. … Read the post medieval wife’s sexual entitlement banged against her husband’s love
In twelfth-century France, Sifre and Mir Bernart debated whether the upper or lower part of a woman is preferable. But what men want most is obvious. … Read the post what men want most: honest, frank discussion in medieval France
Marcabru spoke ill of women and courtly love because women were complicit in men being a gender structurally degraded, devalued and oppressed. … Read the post gender inequality in courtly love: why Marcabru spoke ill of women
Marcabru subtly sung of the contradictory ethics by which medieval men were compelled to fight in crusades. He perceptively presented a woman’s response. … Read the post Marcabru on medieval conscription of men and women’s response