Elias de Barjols
Encyclopedia
Elias de Barjols was a bourgeois Aquitainian troubadour
who eventually established roots in Provence
as a landed nobleman. Thirteen of his lyrics
survive, but none of his music.
Elias was from the castle
of Pérols-sur-Vézère
in the Agen
ais, the son of a merchant. According to his vida
he was the greatest singer of his age and he travelled widely from court to court as a jongleur with a fellow jongleur named Oliver (or Olivers). They eventually found favour with Alfonso II of Provence, who gave them wives and land in Barjols
, where they became known as the lords of Barjols.
According to his vida Elias fell in love with Garsenda of Sabran, the widow of Alfonso II (died 1209), and composed songs for her "as long as she lived". He later entered a hospital of the Fratres Pontifices
founded by Beneic
in Avignon
, where he died.
Elias was a practitioner of the trobar leu
style. Among his works are two descort
s, a partimen
, and twelve cansos
. Before 1191 Elias wrote a poem describing the cavalier soissebut (or cavalher benestan: ideal, or model, knight) with his characteristics taken from his contemporaries, in imitation of a work by Bertran de Born
in which the domna soissebuda (or dompna soiseubuda) is described by features of the exemplary noblewomen of Bertran's time. Elias constructs this knight for his lady from the "charm" of Aimar V of Limoges
, the "gracious wit" of Dalfi d'Alvernha, the "generosity" of Eble V of Ventadorn
, the "gaiety" (guaieza) of Pons de Capdoill, and the "poetical talents" (chansos) of Raimon de Miraval
.
Another poem, Ben deu hom son bon senhor, written probably between 1225 and 1228, has two tornada
s referring to Beatrice of Savoy
, husband of Raymond Berengar IV of Provence, and the lord Blacatz
respectively. The stanza preceding them is full of praise for the Emperor Frederick II, suzerain of Provence, who had good relations with both Raymond Berengar and Blacatz at the time.
Besides Alfonso and Alfonso's widow and daughter-in-law, Elias wrote poems to Marguerite of Geneva
, wife of Thomas I of Savoy
, and mother of Beatrice.
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....
who eventually established roots in 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 a landed nobleman. Thirteen of his lyrics
Lyric poetry
Lyric poetry is a genre of poetry that expresses personal and emotional feelings. In the ancient world, lyric poems were those which were sung to the lyre. Lyric poems do not have to rhyme, and today do not need to be set to music or a beat...
survive, but none of his music.
Elias was from 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 Pérols-sur-Vézère
Pérols-sur-Vézère
Pérols-sur-Vézère is a commune in the Corrèze department in central France.-Population:-References:*...
in the Agen
Agen
Agen is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne department in Aquitaine in south-western France. It lies on the river Garonne southeast of Bordeaux. It is the capital of the department.-Economy:The town has a higher level of unemployment than the national average...
ais, the son of a merchant. According to his vida
Vida (Occitan literary form)
Vida is the usual term for a brief prose biography, written in Old Occitan, of a troubadour or trobairitz.The word vida means "life" in Occitan languages. In the chansonniers, the manuscript collections of medieval troubadour poetry, the works of a particular author are often accompanied by a...
he was the greatest singer of his age and he travelled widely from court to court as a jongleur with a fellow jongleur named Oliver (or Olivers). They eventually found favour with Alfonso II of Provence, who gave them wives and land in Barjols
Barjols
Barjols is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.At the gateway to Haute Provence and the hills of Var, near the Verdon gorges and the Lake of St...
, where they became known as the lords of Barjols.
According to his vida Elias fell in love with Garsenda of Sabran, the widow of Alfonso II (died 1209), and composed songs for her "as long as she lived". He later entered a hospital of the Fratres Pontifices
Bridge-Building Brotherhood
A Bridge-Building Brotherhood is a religious association whose purpose is building bridges. Bridge-Building Brotherhoods reportedly existed during the 12th and 13th centuries. Not much is known about their origins.-A Work of Piety:...
founded by Beneic
Bénézet
Saint Bénézet , is a saint of the Catholic Church, considered the founder of the Bridge-Building Brotherhood. Christian tradition states that he was a shepherd boy who saw a vision during an eclipse in 1177...
in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, where he died.
Elias was a practitioner of the trobar leu
Trobar leu
The trobar leu , or light style of poetry, was the most popular style used by the troubadours. Its accessibility gave it a wide audience, though modern readers may find its somewhat formulaic nature tiresome after a while....
style. Among his works are two descort
Descort
The descort is a subgenre of Occitan lyric poetry used by the troubadours. It is a song heavily discordant in verse form and/or feeling and often used to express disagreement. It was invented by Garin d'Apchier when he wrote Quan foill'e flors reverdezis...
s, a partimen
Partimen
The partimen is a genre of Occitan lyric poetry composed between two troubadours, a subgenre of the tenso or cobla exchange in which one poet presents a dilemma in the form of a question and the two debate the answer, each taking up a different side. It was especially popular in poetic contests....
, and twelve cansos
Canso (song)
The canso is a song style used by the troubadours. It consists of three parts. The first stanza is the exordium, where the composer explains his purpose. The main body of the song occurs in the following stanzas, and usually draw out a variety of relationships with the exordium. The canso can end...
. Before 1191 Elias wrote a poem describing the cavalier soissebut (or cavalher benestan: ideal, or model, knight) with his characteristics taken from his contemporaries, in imitation of a work by Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born
Bertran de Born was a baron from the Limousin in France, and one of the major Occitan troubadours of the twelfth century.-Life and works:...
in which the domna soissebuda (or dompna soiseubuda) is described by features of the exemplary noblewomen of Bertran's time. Elias constructs this knight for his lady from the "charm" of Aimar V of Limoges
Aimar V of Limoges
Aimar V Boso was the Viscount of Limoges, a petty nobleman in the Loire valley in the Duchy of Aquitaine.Born in Limoges, Aimar was orphaned at a young age and raised by his relatives among the southern French aristocracy...
, the "gracious wit" of Dalfi d'Alvernha, the "generosity" of Eble V of Ventadorn
Eble V of Ventadorn
Eble V of Ventadorn was viscount of Ventadour . He was the son of Eble IV and of Sybille de la Faye...
, the "gaiety" (guaieza) of Pons de Capdoill, and the "poetical talents" (chansos) of Raimon de Miraval
Raimon de Miraval
Raimon de Miraval was a troubadour and, according to his vida, "a poor knight from Carcassonne who owned less than a quarter of the castle of Miraval." Favoured by Raymond VI of Toulouse, he was also later associated with Peter II of Aragon and Alfonso VIII of Castile...
.
Another poem, Ben deu hom son bon senhor, written probably between 1225 and 1228, has two tornada
Tornada (Occitan literary term)
In Occitan lyric poetry, a tornada refers to a final, shorter stanza which is addressed to a patron, lady, or friend. They often contain useful information about the piece's composition and the troubadour's circle....
s referring to Beatrice of Savoy
Beatrice of Savoy
Beatrice of Savoy was the daughter of Thomas I of Savoy and Margaret of Geneva. She was Countess consort of Provence by her marriage to Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence.-Family:...
, husband of Raymond Berengar IV of Provence, and the lord Blacatz
Blacatz
Blacatz, known in French genealogy as Blacas de Blacas III , was feudal lord of Aups and a troubadour. Sordello composed a lament on his death, inviting the kings of his time to share and eat the heart of Blacatz and thus acquire a portion of his courage.He was the father of the troubadour...
respectively. The stanza preceding them is full of praise for the Emperor Frederick II, suzerain of Provence, who had good relations with both Raymond Berengar and Blacatz at the time.
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Besides Alfonso and Alfonso's widow and daughter-in-law, Elias wrote poems to Marguerite of Geneva
Marguerite of Geneva
Marguerite of Geneva was the daughter of William I, Count of Geneva and Beatrice de Faucigny. She was supposed to become the third wife of Philip II of France but was abducted by Thomas I of Savoy in 1195, while on her way to Paris...
, wife 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...
, and mother of Beatrice.