What are troubadours?

Troubadours were poet-musicians who flourished in southern France and northern Italy from the 11th to the 13th centuries. They were typically of noble birth and composed and performed songs in the Occitan language (also known as Provençal).

The troubadours were part of a cultural movement known as "courtly love," which celebrated the chivalric ideal of devotion to a noble lady. Their songs often expressed both the joys and sorrows of unrequited love and were characterised by their elaborate melodies and sophisticated lyrics.

They typically accompanied themselves on a single-stringed lute called a troubadour and often performed before courts and aristocratic gatherings.

Some of the most famous troubadours include Bernart de Ventadorn, Jaufré Rudel, and Marcabru. Their works had a profound influence on the development of Western literature and music and left a lasting legacy on trouvères (lyric poets-musicians in northern France), medieval literature, and the tradition of "amour courtois".