Tea at Trianon: The Chivalrous Melodies and Colorful Lives of the Medieval Troubadours

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Thursday, January 18, 2024

The Chivalrous Melodies and Colorful Lives of the Medieval Troubadours

From Ancient Origins:

Musical historians have pointed out that his work only survived because of his status and its likely earlier troubadours (if they existed) were less lucky. On top of this, his music isn’t 100% original and uses previously established musical structures. Some believe Eble II of Ventadorn, despite being younger than William, was the first true troubadour, but sadly none of his works survive.

Since the 16th century, scholars have speculated that William took inspiration from Arabian and Moorish music and poetry. William served during the Reconquista and the English chronicler Orderic Vitalis referred to William writing lyrics about his time serving in the 1101 Crusade. Later historians have often disagreed, citing the fact that it seems William only fought on the Iberian Peninsula towards the end of his life. In turn, this has been countered with the idea that William likely had people within his extended family of Iberian origins and European friends who spoke Arabic. (Read more.)