Cielo d'Alcamo
Encyclopedia
Cielo d'Alcamo was an Italian Sicilian poet, born in the early 13th century. He is one of the main exponents of the Italian medieval jester poetry. His traditional surname (which would mean "from Alcamo
", a town in western Sicily
) has been differently identified by other scholars as "Dal Camo" or "Dalcamo".
He is known exclusively from the poem "Rosa fresca aulentissima" ("Fresh and very perfumed rose"), contained in a single codex now in the Vatican Library
. This work is written in a southern Italian dialect, with several continental influences: it represents a parody of the themes of the contemporary Troubador poetry of Provence
, as well as of the language used in the "Magna Curia" of literates and scholars at the court of Emperor Frederick II
at the time. The date of execution has been assigned between 1231 and 1250.
Identified by some scholars (such as Francesco De Sanctis) as a popular work, "Rosa fresca aulentissima" was most likely written by an acculturated author, as testified by his knowledge of works such as the Roman de la Rose
and by his likely vicinity to Frederick II's court.
Alcamo
Alcamo is the fourth largest city in the province of Trapani, in north-western Sicily, southern Italy.-History:Alcamo was founded in 828 by the Muslim commander al-Kamuk , though other sources date its origin to c. 972...
", a town in western Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
) has been differently identified by other scholars as "Dal Camo" or "Dalcamo".
He is known exclusively from the poem "Rosa fresca aulentissima" ("Fresh and very perfumed rose"), contained in a single codex now in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
. This work is written in a southern Italian dialect, with several continental influences: it represents a parody of the themes of the contemporary Troubador poetry of 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...
, as well as of the language used in the "Magna Curia" of literates and scholars at the court of Emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
at the time. The date of execution has been assigned between 1231 and 1250.
Identified by some scholars (such as Francesco De Sanctis) as a popular work, "Rosa fresca aulentissima" was most likely written by an acculturated author, as testified by his knowledge of works such as the Roman de la Rose
Roman de la Rose
The Roman de la rose, , is a medieval French poem styled as an allegorical dream vision. It is a notable instance of courtly literature. The work's stated purpose is to both entertain and to teach others about the Art of Love. At various times in the poem, the "Rose" of the title is seen as the...
and by his likely vicinity to Frederick II's court.