Castelloza

Castelloza

Na Castelloza^[1] (fl. early 13th century) was a noblewoman and trobairitz from Auvergne. According to her later vida, she was the wife of Turc de Mairona, probably the lord of Meyronne.^[2] Turc's ancestors had participated in a Crusade around 1210 or 1220, which was the origin of his name (meaning "Turk").^[2] She was reputed to have been in love with Arman de Brion, a member of the house of Bréon and of greater social rank than her, about whom she wrote several songs.^[2] Her vida records her to have been "very gay", "very learned", and "very beautiful".^[2] Only three—perhaps four if recents scholarship is accepted—of her songs (all cansos) survive, all without music.^[3] This, however, makes her at least the second most prolific of trobairitz in terms of surviving works: only Beatriz de Dia certainly has more, with four cansos to her name.^[4] The subject of all her poems is courtly love.

Compared with Beatriz de Dia, Castelloza is a more conservative poet. Her persona throughout her works is consistent and though she raises the tension between conditional and unconditional love she always remains committed to absolute fidelity.^[5]

One scholar, Peter Dronke, has seen Castelloza's songs as forming a lyric cycle.^[6]

Bibliography

• Ja de chantar non degra aver talan
• Amics, s'ie.us trobes avinen
• Mout avetz faich lonc estatge
• Per joi que d'amor m'avegna (disputed)

Sources

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