Pons d'Ortaffa
Encyclopedia
Pons d'Ortaffa/Ortafas or Ponç d'Ortafà (c. 1170 – 1246) was a Catalan
nobleman and troubadour
. He was the feudal lord of Ortafà, between Perpignan
and Elne
, in Roussillon
. Only two pieces of his lyric poetry
survive, both cansos
on courtly love
, one with a surviving melody.
Pons was born into a minor noble family with a history of producing ecclesiastics for the local church. He was the son and successor of Grimau, who was alive as late as 1184, and Brunissenda. He was born around 1170. His younger brother Pere was the archdeacon
of Elne. He died in 1247 and was buried in Elne Cathedral. Pons married Saurina de Tatzó, also of Roussillon, and had three children: his successor Pons II, Grimau, and Alisenda. Pons II was alive as late as 1251.
Pons' name appears on a peace treaty between the lords of Roussillon and their count, Nuño Sánchez
, in 1217. The last documentary record of Pons is his testament, dated 23 July 1240. A second draft was produced in 1246. He probably died soon thereafter.
Pons first poems is Enaissi cum la naus en mar ("Thus like the ship on the sea"), dedicated to a Senher En Berenguier ("Lord Sir Berengar", possibly Berenguier de Palazol
, with whom Pons may have had contact early in his life). The lady of the song was from the Narbonnais
, a region in which Pons' father possessed land according to a document of 13 November 1171 now in the Liber Feudorum Maior
: de meridie in campo Caput Stagni de Burliano . . . in termino de Ortafano. It is possible that Pons was travelling in the Narbonnais when he wrote the song, perhaps on family business. In this same song Pons contemplates entering the Cistercian monastery of Jau
. The surviving melody of this poem is extremely simple and "frugal" in style.
Pons second poem is Si ai perdut mon saber. It is full of original ideas and some chansonnier
s assign it to Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
or Pons de Capduelh
, but the mention of Jau fixes its author as Pons d'Ortaffa, whose lordship was adjacent to Jau. Pons' verses garnered him prestige in Catalonia. The first verse of Si ai perdut appeared in the Passio Amoris of Jordi de Sant Jordi
and in Tant mon voler by Pere Torroella.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
nobleman and 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....
. He was the feudal lord of Ortafà, between Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
and Elne
Elne
Elne is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.It lies in the former province of Roussillon, of which it was the first capital, being later replaced by Perpignan...
, in Roussillon
County of Roussillon
The County of Roussillon was one of the Catalan counties in the Marca Hispanica during the Middle Ages. The rulers of the county were the Counts of Roussillon, whose interests lay both north and south of the Pyrenees.-Visigothic county:...
. Only two pieces of his lyric poetry
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, both 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...
on courtly love
Courtly love
Courtly love was a medieval European conception of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration. Generally, courtly love was secret and between members of the nobility. It was also generally not practiced between husband and wife....
, one with a surviving melody.
Pons was born into a minor noble family with a history of producing ecclesiastics for the local church. He was the son and successor of Grimau, who was alive as late as 1184, and Brunissenda. He was born around 1170. His younger brother Pere was the archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Elne. He died in 1247 and was buried in Elne Cathedral. Pons married Saurina de Tatzó, also of Roussillon, and had three children: his successor Pons II, Grimau, and Alisenda. Pons II was alive as late as 1251.
Pons' name appears on a peace treaty between the lords of Roussillon and their count, Nuño Sánchez
Nuño Sánchez
Nuño Sánchez was a Catalan nobleman and statesman.Nuño was the son of Sancho, Count of Provence, Roussillon, and Cerdagne, and Sancha Núñez of the House of Lara. His father was dispossessed of Provence in 1185 but maintained Roussillon and Cerdagne until his death in 1223, handing control of them...
, in 1217. The last documentary record of Pons is his testament, dated 23 July 1240. A second draft was produced in 1246. He probably died soon thereafter.
Pons first poems is Enaissi cum la naus en mar ("Thus like the ship on the sea"), dedicated to a Senher En Berenguier ("Lord Sir Berengar", possibly Berenguier de Palazol
Berenguier de Palazol
Berenguier de Palazol, Palol, or Palou was a Catalan troubadour from Paillol in the County of Roussillon. Of his total output twelve cansos survive, and a relatively high proportion—eight—with melodies....
, with whom Pons may have had contact early in his life). The lady of the song was from the Narbonnais
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
, a region in which Pons' father possessed land according to a document of 13 November 1171 now in the Liber Feudorum Maior
Liber feudorum maior
The Liber feudorum maior , originally called the Liber domini regis , is a late twelfth-century illuminated cartulary of the Crown of Aragon. It was compiled by the royal archivist Ramon de Caldes with the help of Guillem de Bassa for Alfonso II, beginning in 1192...
: de meridie in campo Caput Stagni de Burliano . . . in termino de Ortafano. It is possible that Pons was travelling in the Narbonnais when he wrote the song, perhaps on family business. In this same song Pons contemplates entering the Cistercian monastery of Jau
Jau
Jau is an alternative word for Ja in Norway. Ja also is Yes in English, and often used during chatting to refer as "Yes".* Jaú, a city in São Paulo state, Brazil* Jaú National Park, a national park in Amazonas, Brazil* Jau, Bahrain...
. The surviving melody of this poem is extremely simple and "frugal" in style.
Pons second poem is Si ai perdut mon saber. It is full of original ideas and some chansonnier
Chansonnier
A chansonnier is a manuscript or printed book which contains a collection of chansons, or polyphonic and monophonic settings of songs, hence literally "song-books," although some manuscripts are so called even though they preserve the text but not the music A chansonnier is a manuscript or...
s assign it to Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras
Raimbaut de Vaqueiras was a Provençal troubadour and, later in his life, knight. His life was spent mainly in Italian courts until 1203, when he joined the Fourth Crusade....
or Pons de Capduelh
Pons de Capduelh
Pons de Capduelh, Capduell, Capdveyll, Capdveill, Capduoill, Capdoill, Capdolh, or Chapteuil was a troubadour. His songs were known for their great gaiety...
, but the mention of Jau fixes its author as Pons d'Ortaffa, whose lordship was adjacent to Jau. Pons' verses garnered him prestige in Catalonia. The first verse of Si ai perdut appeared in the Passio Amoris of Jordi de Sant Jordi
Jordi de Sant Jordi
Jordi de Sant Jordi was born in the Kingdom of Valencia. He was Chamberlain at the court of King Alfons V of Aragon but is best known for his poetry....
and in Tant mon voler by Pere Torroella.