Feudal Society & Ramon Llull: Courtly Love, Poetry, and Religion
Feudal Society (11th-13th Centuries)
Two Social Classes
Feudal society consisted of two distinct classes: the nobility and the commoners. The nobility, including lords and ladies, lived in palaces and managed vast estates. The commoners, including serfs and slaves, lived in humble mud and straw huts, dedicating their lives to farming, animal breeding, and serving the nobility.
Feudal Army
To maintain control over their serfs and extract maximum economic benefit, the nobility formed feudal armies of loyal vassals. These vassals were linked hierarchically by oaths of loyalty and dependence, creating a pyramid-shaped social structure.
Oaths of Loyalty
The hierarchical relationships among nobles were established through written contracts and ceremonies of homage, including rituals and oaths of allegiance. Vassals would present themselves to their lords, offer their hands, kiss, and publicly declare their oath.
Courtly Culture
The Rise of Courtly Culture
From the 11th century onwards, feudal courts in Western Europe developed their own distinct culture, glorifying heroic and chivalrous virtues. The ideal courtly knight was expected to be brave, generous, loyal, gentle, and a skilled lover of a lady.
Troubadour Poetry
Within this cultural context, troubadour poetry emerged, reflecting the social values and lifestyle of the nobility in feudal courts. This aristocratic art form celebrated beauty, courtesy, and deep love, often portraying the lady as the center of the knight’s world.
Courtly Love Songs
The Troubadour’s Role
During the 12th and 13th centuries, love songs flourished in feudal courts, particularly in Southern France, Northern Italy, and Catalonia. Troubadours composed both the lyrics and music, performing publicly for their audiences. These songs expressed the poet’s deep love and admiration for a lady, often portraying her as married and unattainable.
Secret Admiration
To protect the lady’s reputation, troubadours often used pseudonyms or symbolic language to conceal her identity. William of Cabestany is a prime example of a troubadour who masterfully expressed the themes of courtly love.
Poetry as a Political Weapon
Satirical Sirventes
Troubadour poetry could also serve as a tool for political and social commentary. When nobles wanted to criticize their enemies, they used a genre called the “sirventes.” Bertran de Born, for example, used his poetry to attack kings, bishops, and other nobles.
Catalan Troubadours
Occitan Influence
The prestige of troubadour poetry led Catalan poets to compose in the Occitan language (the language of Southern France) from the 12th century onwards. Several factors contributed to this influence, including geographical proximity, linguistic similarities, and strong economic and political ties.
Transition to Catalan
This tradition continued until the 15th century when Ausiàs March began writing his poetry in Catalan, marking a shift away from the Occitan language.
Ramon Llull: From Troubadour to Religious Scholar
Early Life and Transformation
Ramon Llull (1235-1315), a nobleman in the court of Prince James of Majorca, initially dedicated himself to troubadour poetry. However, after 30 years, a profound experience led him to abandon his courtly life, sell his possessions, and devote himself to religious pursuits.
Religious Studies and Missionary Work
Llull immersed himself in study and prayer, even purchasing a Saracen slave to learn Arabic, hoping to preach to Muslims. This experience exposed him to Arabic philosophy and science, but ended tragically when his slave attacked him. Following this, Llull retreated to Mount Randa, where he claimed to have received divine inspiration for his “Art,” a method for converting unbelievers through logical arguments.
Three Main Objectives
Llull’s mission had three primary goals: converting unbelievers to Christianity, writing books to support his beliefs, and establishing language schools to train preachers. He believed in using the language of those he wished to convert, hence his interest in Arabic.
The Path to Perfection
Another of Llull’s objectives was to guide Christians towards spiritual perfection through knowledge, love, and praise of God. He criticized church leaders and rulers for prioritizing material wealth over spiritual matters.
A Prolific Writer
Literary Contributions
Ramon Llull was a prolific writer and is considered one of the most important figures in Catalan and universal literature. He was the first to use a Romance language to discuss topics previously reserved for Latin. His works, numbering over 250, include sermons, social and political critiques, poems, and novels, reflecting his diverse interests and missionary life.
Notable Works
Among his extensive output, two long novels stand out: Blanquerna (which includes The Book of the Lover and the Beloved) and Felix (also known as The Book of Beasts).
Master of the Example
Teaching Through Storytelling
Llull was a skilled storyteller, using fables and other short narratives to convey moral lessons and Christian doctrine. He employed captivating examples to capture the reader’s attention and impart his teachings effectively.
Defender of the Established Order
The Book of Beasts
The Book of Beasts, one of Llull’s most popular works, is a political allegory featuring animals that represent different social groups and their struggles for power. The book critiques courtly intrigues and the vices of society through the animal kingdom.
Religious Poetry
Shift in Focus
Although Llull abandoned his early troubadour poetry for religious pursuits, he continued to write religious and biographical poems that showcased his political views.
Missionary and Martyr
Travels and Trials
Between 1280 and 1315, Llull embarked on extensive travels, visiting Rome, Naples, Montpellier, Paris, Tunis, Cyprus, and Jerusalem to spread his religious message. His missionary work was fraught with difficulties. In Tunis (1293), he was imprisoned, tortured, and sentenced to death for preaching against Islamic law. He was eventually pardoned and banished thanks to the intervention of an influential figure.