Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise
Encyclopedia
The Song of the Albigensian Crusade is an Old Occitan epic poem narrating events of the Albigensian Crusade
from March 1208 to June 1219. Modelled on the Old French
chanson de geste
, it was composed in two distinct parts: William of Tudela
wrote the first towards 1213, and an anonymous continuator finished the account. However, recent studies have proposed the troubadour
Gui de Cavalhon
as the author of the second part. It is one of three major contemporary narratives of the Albigensian Crusade, the Historia Albigensis of Pierre des Vaux-de-Cernay and the Chronica
of William of Puylaurens being the others.
), written in or around Toulouse
about 1275. The original title is Cansó de la crozada ("song of the crusade"). The first critical edition was published with a French translation—Chanson de la croisade contre les albigeois—by Paul Meyer in two volumes (1875–79). Eugène Martin-Chabot published another multi-volume French translation under the title Chanson de la croisade albigeoise. Henri Gougaud used the same title in his single-volume edition of 1992. The Song was finally translated into English (as The Song of the Cathar Wars) by Janet Shirley in 1996.
(he names himself in laisses 1 and 9), probably in 1213. It comprises the first 2749 lines, in 130 laisses (rhymed stanzas of varying length), and takes the story to the beginning of 1213. It is strongly partisan, in favour of the Crusaders
and against their opponents, the Cathars and southerners in general.
has been recently proposed. This second part covers events from 1213 onwards and takes the opposite point of view, critical of the Crusaders and strongly in favour of the southerners (though not of Catharism). To historians the Song is important for this whole period because it is the only major narrative source that takes the southern viewpoint; it is especially important from April 1216 to June 1219, because the prose narrative by Pierre des Vaux-de-Cernay becomes more sketchy and incomplete from 1216 onwards.
The author was apparently an educated man, displaying some knowledge of theology and law, and belonged to the diocese of Toulouse (since he calls bishop Folquet de Marselha
"our bishop"). Michel Zink suggests that he was with Raymond VII of Toulouse
in Rome and Provence during the years 1215 and 1216. The poet mentions the death of Guy of Montfort
, which actually took place in 1228; it is questionable whether the whole of part 2 was written after that date, or whether the reference to Guy's death was a later insertion.
Saverio Guida has proposed that Gui de Cavalhon
may be the author. Gui, besides being a troubadour
, was also a noble, and one of the most faithful allies of Raymond VI of Toulouse
.
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
from March 1208 to June 1219. Modelled on the Old French
Old French
Old French was the Romance dialect continuum spoken in territories that span roughly the northern half of modern France and parts of modern Belgium and Switzerland from the 9th century to the 14th century...
chanson de geste
Chanson de geste
The chansons de geste, Old French for "songs of heroic deeds", are the epic poems that appear at the dawn of French literature. The earliest known examples date from the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries, nearly a hundred years before the emergence of the lyric poetry of the trouvères and...
, it was composed in two distinct parts: William of Tudela
William of Tudela
William of Tudela was the author of the first part of the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade against the Cathars.According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was...
wrote the first towards 1213, and an anonymous continuator finished the account. However, recent studies have proposed the troubadour
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....
Gui de Cavalhon
Gui de Cavalhon
Gui de Cavalhon, Cavaillo, or Gavaillo was a Provençal nobleman: a diplomat, warrior, and man of letters. He was probably also the Guionet who composed tensos and partimens with Cadenet, Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Mainart Ros, Pomairol, and a certain Guillem.-Knight and nobleman:Gui was born at...
as the author of the second part. It is one of three major contemporary narratives of the Albigensian Crusade, the Historia Albigensis of Pierre des Vaux-de-Cernay and the Chronica
Chronica (Guillaume de Puylaurens)
Cronica is the short title of a history of Catharism and the Albigensian Crusade by the 13th century Toulousain author Guillaume de Puylaurens....
of William of Puylaurens being the others.
Publication
There is a single surviving manuscript of the whole Song (fr. 25425 in the Bibliothèque nationaleBibliothèque nationale de France
The is the National Library of France, located in Paris. It is intended to be the repository of all that is published in France. The current president of the library is Bruno Racine.-History:...
), written in or around Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
about 1275. The original title is Cansó de la crozada ("song of the crusade"). The first critical edition was published with a French translation—Chanson de la croisade contre les albigeois—by Paul Meyer in two volumes (1875–79). Eugène Martin-Chabot published another multi-volume French translation under the title Chanson de la croisade albigeoise. Henri Gougaud used the same title in his single-volume edition of 1992. The Song was finally translated into English (as The Song of the Cathar Wars) by Janet Shirley in 1996.
First part
The first was written by William of TudelaWilliam of Tudela
William of Tudela was the author of the first part of the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade against the Cathars.According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was...
(he names himself in laisses 1 and 9), probably in 1213. It comprises the first 2749 lines, in 130 laisses (rhymed stanzas of varying length), and takes the story to the beginning of 1213. It is strongly partisan, in favour of the Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
and against their opponents, the Cathars and southerners in general.
Second part
The second part comprises the remaining 6811 lines of the poem, in laisses 131 to 214. The author's identity is not certain, although the name of Gui de CavalhonGui de Cavalhon
Gui de Cavalhon, Cavaillo, or Gavaillo was a Provençal nobleman: a diplomat, warrior, and man of letters. He was probably also the Guionet who composed tensos and partimens with Cadenet, Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Mainart Ros, Pomairol, and a certain Guillem.-Knight and nobleman:Gui was born at...
has been recently proposed. This second part covers events from 1213 onwards and takes the opposite point of view, critical of the Crusaders and strongly in favour of the southerners (though not of Catharism). To historians the Song is important for this whole period because it is the only major narrative source that takes the southern viewpoint; it is especially important from April 1216 to June 1219, because the prose narrative by Pierre des Vaux-de-Cernay becomes more sketchy and incomplete from 1216 onwards.
The author was apparently an educated man, displaying some knowledge of theology and law, and belonged to the diocese of Toulouse (since he calls bishop Folquet de Marselha
Folquet de Marselha
Folquet de Marselha, alternatively Folquet de Marseille, Foulques de Toulouse, Fulk of Toulouse came from a Genoese merchant family who lived in Marseille...
"our bishop"). Michel Zink suggests that he was with Raymond VII of Toulouse
Raymond VII of Toulouse
Raymond VII of Saint-Gilles was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne and Marquis of Provence from 1222 until his death. He was the son of Raymond VI of Toulouse and Joan of England...
in Rome and Provence during the years 1215 and 1216. The poet mentions the death of Guy of Montfort
Guy de Montfort, Lord of Sidon
Guy de Montfort was the younger son of Simon III de Montfort and Amicia, sister of Robert FitzPernel, Earl of Leicester.-Crusade:...
, which actually took place in 1228; it is questionable whether the whole of part 2 was written after that date, or whether the reference to Guy's death was a later insertion.
Saverio Guida has proposed that Gui de Cavalhon
Gui de Cavalhon
Gui de Cavalhon, Cavaillo, or Gavaillo was a Provençal nobleman: a diplomat, warrior, and man of letters. He was probably also the Guionet who composed tensos and partimens with Cadenet, Raimbaut de Vaqueiras, Mainart Ros, Pomairol, and a certain Guillem.-Knight and nobleman:Gui was born at...
may be the author. Gui, besides being a troubadour
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....
, was also a noble, and one of the most faithful allies of Raymond VI of Toulouse
Raymond VI of Toulouse
Raymond VI was count of Toulouse and marquis of Provence from 1194 to 1222. He was also count of Melgueil from 1173 to 1190.-Early life:...
.
Editions and translations
- Meyer, Paul, ed. and tr. 1875–1879. Chanson de la croisade contre les albigeois. Paris.
- Martin-Chabot, Eugène, ed. and tr. 1931–1961. La chanson de la croisade albigeoise. Paris: Les Belles Lettres.
- Gougaud, Henri, tr. 1992. Chanson de la croisade albigeoise. Paris: Livre de Poche.
- Shirley, Janet, tr. 1996. The Song of the Cathar Wars: A History of the Albigensian Crusade. Ashgate Publishing.