Aimeric de Belenoi
Encyclopedia
Aimeric de Belenoi was a Gascon
troubadour
. At least fifteen of his songs survive and there are seven more which were attributed to him in some medieval manuscripts.
Aimeric's birthplace was the castle
of Lesparra in the Bordelais
(metropolis civitas Burdigalensium, the modern Gironde
). He was related to another troubadour, Peire de Corbiac
, who was his uncle. His vida says he was a cleric and later a jongleur before he took to "inventing good songs, which were beautiful and charming." He seems to have later been the feudal lord of Belenoi, an unknown location.
The chief object of his songs was a lady named Gentil de Rieux (Gentilis de Gienciaco), a Gascon from Gensac-Saint-Julien and the wife of Raimon de Benque. His biographer records that he lingered in Gascony a long time "for her" before eventually moving on to Catalonia
, where he died.
Aimeric's poetry refers to events at Toulouse
, Provence
, and Italy
, implying that he was so widely travelled. He was at the Este
court in Ferrara
in the 1210s, where he probably had contact with Aimeric de Pegulhan, Albertet de Sestaro
, Guillem Augier Novella
, and Peirol
. He probably also made the acquaintance of Peire Cardenal
.
Aimeric went to Castile
before making his final trip to Catalonia. His last datable work was Nulhs hom en res no falh, a planh
for Nuño Sánchez
, who died in 1242. This planh was addressed to the comtessa Beatris, wife of Raymond Berengar IV of Provence, and senher N'Imo, her brother Aimone, son of Thomas I of Savoy
. Though the work is often found ascribed to Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
in the chansonnier
s, the reference to this pair and the style of the work, favour ascription to Aimeric. It is the only piece of work by Aimeric which survives with a melody, though that melody is ascribed (with the lyrics) in its lone manuscript to Peirol. The melody is through-composed
.
Aimeric's verses were first collected by Maria Dumitrescu as Poésies du troubadour Aimeric de Belenoi and published at Paris
in 1935. She criticised his work as "banal", but it enjoyed widespread popularity in the High Middle Ages, especially in Italy, and it is varied in its intertwining themes moral, religious, and amorous.
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
. At least fifteen of his songs survive and there are seven more which were attributed to him in some medieval manuscripts.
Aimeric's birthplace was the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
of Lesparra in the Bordelais
Bordelais
Bordelais is a French term meaning "of Bordeaux" and can refer to* an inhabitant of the city Bordeaux* the area surrounding the city Bordeaux* an inhabitant of the commune Les Bordes-sur-Lez* Bordeaux wine, or the Bordeaux wine region...
(metropolis civitas Burdigalensium, the modern Gironde
Gironde
For the Revolutionary party, see Girondists.Gironde is a common name for the Gironde estuary, where the mouths of the Garonne and Dordogne rivers merge, and for a department in the Aquitaine region situated in southwest France.-History:...
). He was related to another troubadour, Peire de Corbiac
Peire de Corbiac
Peire de Corbiac or Corbian was a Gascon cleric and troubadour of the thirteenth century. His most famous works are a religious piece, the Prière à la Vierge , and his "treasures", Lo tezaurs ....
, who was his uncle. His vida says he was a cleric and later a jongleur before he took to "inventing good songs, which were beautiful and charming." He seems to have later been the feudal lord of Belenoi, an unknown location.
The chief object of his songs was a lady named Gentil de Rieux (Gentilis de Gienciaco), a Gascon from Gensac-Saint-Julien and the wife of Raimon de Benque. His biographer records that he lingered in Gascony a long time "for her" before eventually moving on to Catalonia
Principality of Catalonia
The Principality of Catalonia , is a historic territory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, mostly in Spain and with an adjoining portion in southern France....
, where he died.
Aimeric's poetry refers to events at Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, implying that he was so widely travelled. He was at the Este
Este
The House of Este is a European princely dynasty. It is split into two branches; the elder is known as the House of Welf-Este or House of Welf historically rendered in English, Guelf or Guelph...
court in Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
in the 1210s, where he probably had contact with Aimeric de Pegulhan, Albertet de Sestaro
Albertet de Sestaro
Albertet de Sestaró, Sestairó, Sestairon, Sestarron, Sisteron, or Terascon was a Provençal jongleur and troubadour from the Gapençais . Of his total oeuvre, twenty three poems survive. "Albertet" or "Albertetz" is the Occitan diminutive of Albert...
, Guillem Augier Novella
Guillem Augier Novella
Guillem Augier Novella was a troubadour from Vienne in the Dauphinois who lived most of his adulthood in Lombardy and was active as a minstrel in the early or mid thirteenth century...
, and Peirol
Peirol
Peirol or PeiròlIn Occitan, peir means "stone" and -ol is a diminutive suffix, the name Peirol being understood as the equivalent of "Little Stone" but also "Petit Pierre" or "Pierrot" ; however, "peiròl" also meant a cauldron or a stove...
. He probably also made the acquaintance of Peire Cardenal
Peire Cardenal
Peire Cardenal was a troubadour known for his satirical sirventes and his dislike of the clergy...
.
Aimeric went to Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
before making his final trip to Catalonia. His last datable work was Nulhs hom en res no falh, a planh
Planh
The planh or plaing is a funeral lament used by the troubadours, modeled on the medieval Latin planctus. It differed from the planctus in that it was intended for a secular audience...
for Nuño Sánchez
Nuño Sánchez
Nuño Sánchez was a Catalan nobleman and statesman.Nuño was the son of Sancho, Count of Provence, Roussillon, and Cerdagne, and Sancha Núñez of the House of Lara. His father was dispossessed of Provence in 1185 but maintained Roussillon and Cerdagne until his death in 1223, handing control of them...
, who died in 1242. This planh was addressed to the comtessa Beatris, wife of Raymond Berengar IV of Provence, and senher N'Imo, her brother Aimone, son of Thomas I of Savoy
Thomas I of Savoy
Thomas I or Tommaso I was Count of Savoy from 1189-1233. He was the son of Humbert III of Savoy and Beatrice of Viennois. His birth was seen as miraculous; his monkish father had despaired of having a male heir after three wives. Count Humbert sought counsel from St...
. Though the work is often found ascribed to Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras was a Provençal troubadour and, later in his life, knight. His life was spent mainly in Italian courts until 1203, when he joined the Fourth Crusade....
in the chansonnier
Chansonnier
A chansonnier is a manuscript or printed book which contains a collection of chansons, or polyphonic and monophonic settings of songs, hence literally "song-books," although some manuscripts are so called even though they preserve the text but not the music A chansonnier is a manuscript or...
s, the reference to this pair and the style of the work, favour ascription to Aimeric. It is the only piece of work by Aimeric which survives with a melody, though that melody is ascribed (with the lyrics) in its lone manuscript to Peirol. The melody is through-composed
Through-composed
Through-composed music is relatively continuous, non-sectional, and/or non-repetitive. A song is said to be through-composed if it has different music for each stanza of the lyrics. This is in contrast to strophic form, in which each stanza is set to the same music...
.
Aimeric's verses were first collected by Maria Dumitrescu as Poésies du troubadour Aimeric de Belenoi and published at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1935. She criticised his work as "banal", but it enjoyed widespread popularity in the High Middle Ages, especially in Italy, and it is varied in its intertwining themes moral, religious, and amorous.
Works
All twenty two works that are sometime attributed to Aimeric are listed below, alphabetically:- Aissi quo'l pres que s'en cuja fugir
- Aissi cum hom pros afortitz
- Ara'm destrenh Amors
- Meravilh me cum pot hom apelhar
- No'm laissa ni'm vol retener
- Nulhs hom no pot complir adrechamen
- Per Crist s'ieu crezes Amor
- Pos Dieus nos a restaurat
- Puois lo gais temps de pascor
- Selh que promet a son coral amic
- S'a midons plazia
- Ailas per que viu lonjamen ni dura
- Domna, flor
- Anc, puois qe giois ni canc
- Tant es d'Amor honratz sos senhoratges
- A'l prim pres de'ls breus jorns braus
- Fins e leials e senes tot engan
- Ja non creirai q'afanz ni cossirers
- Nulhs hom en re no falh
- Pus de Joy mou e de Plazer
- Can mi perpens ni m'arbire
- Consiros, cum partitz d'amor