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

Sources

Notes

  1. ↑ "Na" means "lady" in Occitan.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vidas, p. 26.
  3. ↑ Coldwell, "Castelloza".
  4. ↑ Bruckner, 871.
  5. ↑ Bruckner, 877.
  6. ↑ Bruckner, 884.