The troubadours took love seriously but believed romantic love was separate from marriage and rarely intertwined with everyday life

The Troubadours: Separating Romantic Love from Marriage

In the medieval period, a group of poets emerged in the southern regions of France known as the Troubadours. They had a distinct approach to love and believed that romantic love was separate from marriage and rarely intertwined with everyday life. This unique perspective on love shaped their poetry and influenced the idealization of love that still resonates with us today.

The Troubadours took love seriously, considering it a divine and transcendent experience. They believed that love had the power to uplift the soul and lead individuals to a higher level of existence. Love was seen as a spiritual awakening, capable of bringing about personal transformation. These poets were smitten with the euphoria and consuming emotions that love could evoke.

However, the Troubadours also understood that the pursuit of romantic love existed outside the confines of marriage. They believed that marriage served primarily as a practical arrangement, a means to maintain family traditions, inheritances, and political alliances. Romantic love, on the other hand, was seen as a deeply personal and intense emotion that was often directed towards someone other than one’s spouse. The concept of chivalry played a significant role in their understanding of love, emphasizing the noble and selfless aspects of affection.

The Troubadours expressed their amorous devotion through lyrical poetry, or chansons, which were performed and shared in the courts of nobility. The verses celebrated the beauty and virtues of the beloved, often portraying love as an unattainable and idealized state. This poetic tradition had a profound influence on the development of Western literature and the concept of courtly love.

The Troubadours believed that love could exist in its purest form within the realm of fantasy and imagination. Love was a grand passion, reserved for the elite few who could appreciate its depth and complexity. It was an escapism from the harsh realities of everyday life, a dreamlike experience that allowed individuals to transcend their ordinary existence.

This separation of romantic love from marriage created a dichotomy that still influences our understanding of love today. The Troubadours highlighted the power and beauty of romantic love, demonstrating that it could exist outside the bounds of societal expectations and traditional relationships. Their notion of love shaped the cultural landscape of the time and continues to inspire and captivate us centuries later.

In conclusion, the Troubadours held a unique view of love, considering it separate from marriage and rarely intertwined with everyday life. Their belief in the transcendent power of romantic love allowed them to craft exquisite poetry that celebrated its intensity and idealism. This separation of love and marriage continues to resonate with us, challenging societal norms and providing a glimpse into the complexities of human emotions.

Source:

• A Short History of Love - The School of Life