Chretien de Troyes

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Chretien de Troyes

• Father of Arthurian Romance

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Chretien de Troyes Wrote during the 1170s-80s at
the court of Marie de Champagne
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Chretiens Extant Works

• Erec and Enide
• Cliges
• Yvain
• Lancelot
• Perceval

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After this, having invited over to him all
persons whatsoever that were famous for valour in
foreign nations, he began to augment the number
of his domestics, and introduced such politeness
into his court, as people of the remotest
countries thought worthy of their imitation. So
that there was not a nobleman who thought himself
of any consideration, unless his clothes and arms
were made in the same fashion as those of
Arthur's knights. At length the fame of his
munificence and valour spreading over the whole
world, he became a terror to the kings of other
countries, who grievously feared the loss of
their dominions, if he should make any attempt
upon them. Being much perplexed with those
anxious cares, they repaired their cities and
towers, and built towns in convenient places, the
better to fortify themselves against any
enterprise of Arthur, when occasion should
require. Arthur, being informed of what they were
doing, was delighted to find how much they stood
in awe of him, and formed a design for the
conquest of all Europe. --Geoffrey of
Monmouth
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From Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings
of Britain Arthur was then fifteen years old,
but a youth of such unparalleled courage and
generosity, joined with that sweetness of temper
and innate goodness, as gained him universal
love. When his coronation was over, he, according
to the usual custom, showed his bounty and
munificence to the people. And such a number of
soldiers flocked to him upon it, that his
treasury as not able to answer that vast expense.
But such a spirit of generosity, joined with
valour, can never long want means to support
itself. Arthur, therefore, the better to keep up
his munificence, resolved to make use of his
courage, and to fall upon the Saxons, that he
might enrich his followers with their wealth. To
this he was also moved by the justice of the
cause, since the entire monarchy of Britain
belonged to him by hereditary right. (Book 9,
Chapter 1)
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Courtly Love

• Occitania
• Troubadours
• Finamor
• adulterous
• all-consuming
• inspiring
• debilitating, emasculating, infantilizing
• Andreas Capellanus, Art of Courtly Love

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Bernard de Ventadorn on Love
It's no wonder that I sing better than any other
singer, for I am the one whose heart is most
strongly drawn towards love, and the most
obedient to Love's law. Heart and body, intellect
and instinct, strength and power, all these have
I engaged. And the bridle steers me so strongly
to love that I pay no attention to anthing else.
When I see her, it's visible in my eyes, my face,
my color, because I tremble with fear like a leaf
in the wind. I have no more sense than a babe, so
dominated am I by love and for a man so
vanquished, a lady should have great sollicitude.
Good Lady, I ask you nothing else but that you
take me as your servant, so that I could serve
you as a good master, whatever my reward may be.
You see me here at your orders, you who are
honest and humble, cheerful and courtly. You are
neither a lion nor a bear, who would kill me if I
gave myself to you.
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Tropes of Power/Subordination

• Shes the lord hes the vassal
• Shes the doctor hes the patient
• Shes God/the saint hes the supplicant
• Shes the jailer hes the prisoner
• Shes the master hes the servant
• Shes the parent hes the child

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The Postures of the Courtly Love
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Paying Homage
Lover and Lady Seal of Gérard de St. Aubert,
1199
Lord and Vassal Edward III pays homage to Philip
VI
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Love Savages Mens Hearts
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Armed Cupid Stalks a Lover
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Venerating Venus
Achilles
Troilus
Tristram
Paris
Lancelot
Samson
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The Twelfth-Century Chruchs Views on Marriage

• Marriage is good
• Practice of virtue
• Procreation
• Love and attachment
• A valid marriage requires
• Consent of the couple
• Consummation
• Marriage entails the conjugal debt

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Tristan and Isolde
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Tristan vs. Morhaut
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