The First Troubadour
Abstract
This chapter explores how the poetry of William IX, Count of Poitou (1071–1126), commonly known as “the first troubadour”, fused the language and rituals of feudal loyalty with expressions of love, recasting erotic desire through metaphors of obedience and honour. William’s poetry is notable for its stylistic range, shifting between irreverence, sometimes couched in foul language, and earnest devotion, and for blending amatory, feudal, and religious imagery. The chapter argues that this intertwining of registers paved the way for later troubadours, who made love a central topic in medieval literature.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Medieval European Literature and History
Historical
Literary
and Cultural Studies
Medieval Iberian Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 38–46
- Publication date
- 13 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter