Troubadour Poetry and the Valencian Golden Age of Literature

Troubadour Poetry and Its Evolution

From the twelfth century, the emergence of troubadour poetry led to the earliest works of literary romance. While poetic texts were written in Catalan, the poetry itself was composed in Occitan or Provençal.

The central theme was courtly love, a concept representing the feudal system. Courtly love is an adulterous love where the poet falls for a married woman, whose name never appears explicitly.

Key Figures in Courtly Love Poetry

• The Lady: Called 'midons' (my lord) or 'senher' (lord).
• The Troubadour: The male poet in love.
• The Deceived Husband: Known as the 'gilós'.
• The Slanderers: Known as the 'lausengiers', who denounce the lovers.

With the emergence of the bourgeoisie, this lyricism transformed into a poetry of council, designed to be judged by a jury in poetic contests.

Key Authors of the Valencian Golden Age

Ausiàs March (c. 1397–1459)

He was the son of the poet Pere March and Eleanor Ripoll. He had a deaf-mute sister named Peirona. Ausiàs March served as the king's falconer. He first married Isabel Martorell and later Joana Escorna. Although he had no legitimate children, he did have illegitimate offspring. He died on March 3, 1459.

Major Works of Ausiàs March

His work consists of 128 poems, generally categorized as:

• Songs of Love: Depicting women of flesh and blood, with both virtues and defects.
• Songs of Death: Six compositions dedicated to the death of his second wife.
• Spiritual Canticle: A long poem addressed to God, where he questions the future after death.

Themes in March's Poetry

• Love: Described as a contradictory feeling and a passion.
• The Woman: No longer a tyrannical and merciless figure, she is now a real, flesh-and-blood being, but also a source of the greatest vices.
• Death: Seen as a remedy for his desire to love and as redemption from the sin caused by carnal love.

Structure of the Poems

The typical structure includes:

1. An exhibition of his state of mind.
2. An explanation using a real-life situation or a comparison.
3. A conclusion that typically summarizes the preceding verses or addresses the beloved.

However, this structure is sometimes reversed.

Jaume Roig (c. 1401–1478)

A Valencian author who wrote the book Espill (The Mirror), also known as Llibre de les Dones (Book of Women). Written in tetrasyllabic verses, it is a cruel and misogynistic story against women.

Isabel de Villena (1430–1490)

An abbess of the Convent of the Holy Trinity of the Poor Clares. She wrote Vita Christi (Life of Christ) as a defense of women, likely in response to works like Roig's Espill.

Joan Roís de Corella (1435–1497)

From Gandia, he was a Master of Theology and belonged to the Valencian prose school, known for its Latinizing style. His works include:

• Amorous Works: Tragèdia de Caldesa
• Religious Works: Història de Josep (Story of Joseph)
• Circumstantial Texts: El Triomf de les Dones (The Triumph of Women)
• Mythological Works: El raonament de Telamó i Ulisses (The Discourse of Telamon and Ulysses)