Aisha H. Blandneburg
WIKI PAPER
Courtly Love-Relgion
Mercer University
HIST220
Professor: A. Winkler
May 1, 2011
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
“Romantic Expressions” or ideas of love did not begin in the 19th century. Scholars have
provided endless amounts of literature and other evidences that prove that ideas of love where
present during the middle ages, a time where Christianity was the leading force. Courtly love’s
literature and life style was influenced by Roman Catholic Church. Courtly love’s sensuality,
passion, and social aspirations made it carnal, and its religion was seen as a parody of the
Church.
The term “Courtly love” came from Gaston Parris’ 1883 journal Romania. The term
“courtly love” was referred to as “amour courtois”, "Amour Honestus" (Honest Love) and "Fin
Amor" (Refined Love). Some scholars have theorized that courtly love was first expressed in
Southern France during the end of the eleventh century by French troubadours. Denomy
theorized that”… the troubadours took their morality of love from the Arabs and were able to
maintain it alongside the norms of Christian morality.” (Denomy, 45) The troubadours created
styles of poetry that celebrated human love, mainly the love of the poet (always a man) for an
older, sociably established, and extraordinary lady.
Carnal:
“Carnal–adjective1.pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions
and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.2.not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly: a
man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.”(Dictionary, 2011)
Before this time, expressions of love did not occur outside of the church. The church put
much emphasis on the agape love, the love of all human, and platonic love, which is brotherly or
sisterly love. Courtly love, according to Alexander Denomy, “…was not Platonic but carnal in
1
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
its intent despite the fact that it remained ideally unfulfilled” (Moller, 40). Courtly love was full
of passion, which was forbidden by the Church. The literature of the Church was anti-feminist,
while the Courtly Love’s Literature was devoted to the glorification of women. “In religion, the
sinner is penitent and asks that Mary intercede on his behalf with Christ, who is Love. In courtly
love, the sinner (against the laws of love) asks the mother of the love god, Cupid's mother Venus,
to intercede on his behalf with Cupid or Eros, who is the god of love. So this new love religion
seems to parody real religion” (Delahoyde, Courtly Love).
For years scholars have argued the intent of Courtly Love or Fin Amor. Some argue that
courtly love is nothing more but spiritual connection, with use of sensual metaphor. While some
scholars believe that some relationships exceeded past the boundaries, there is little evidence to
prove consummation was a common act. While participation in sex is questionable, the fact that
lustful acts were fantasized about is evident it the writing of the troubadours. “Merely to see her
is enough for some of them; other will be contented with a tuft of fur from her mantle or a few
threads from her glove. Others, it is true, speak of undressing their lady, of gazing at her naked
body, of caressing it, or clasping it to them, but scarcely ever do they suggest complete
possession. Says one: "He knows nothing of 'donnoi' who wants fully to possess his lady”
(Fauriel, 1849).
Not only were lustful thoughts evident, some troubadours seem to have a mother fixation
on their beloved. Making child like references were common in works Betran de Born who
compares his love relationship with a cradle, like Heinrich von Veldeke who,”...fears his beloved
like a child who fears his punishing mother: “ I am afraid of the good one as a child of the
2
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
birch”(Moller, 43). It also a good idea to mention that several poets also connected their
relationships to recollections of spanking. Some scholars have argued that the mother fixation of
the troubadour supported the nonsexual intentions of the troubadours, out of fear of incest.
Others argued the fixation has no effect on their sinful desires, which keeps fin amour as
Denomy states-carnal. The troubadours’ devotion and obsession to females and motherly figures,
literally, is similar to devotion Christians have to Jesus, who was referred to, figuratively, as the
“mother”. Did the troubadours replace the motherly image of Jesus with real women? Was this
another great reason for the Church to oppose the ideas of court
Herbert Muller also argued that courtly love was not just about love. The troubadours
understood that their adored females had the power to take them to their desired social status.
They understood that the incentive for their devotion was entrance into “courtly circles” or social
elevation. (Moller, 47) Muller mentions that feelings of “joy” were associated with the
confidence of being accepted by their beloved and being accepted into a superior social class.”
Joy as an expression of the ideal feeling state of the courtly person, “high mindedness”…active,
self-assertive, and invigorated by the feeling of pride befitting a member of noble or knightly
society” (Moller, 47) Again we see Christian words associated with secular meaning. The word
“joy” that is often associated with the spiritual and supernatural things is seen here expressed
carnally. Joy came from achieving high accolades, being well groomed, being courteous, having
great manners-being a gentle. This was their idea of purification. Through the process of courtly
love, their school of learning where their beloved was the teacher, they were able to get rid of the
3
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
things that did not fit into the mold of noble men. All these concepts are against the beliefs of the
Church.
Hersey?
There were some common influences that seemed to unite the troubadours with the
Cathars. They both coexisted in the same Occitan Regions for two centuries and lived in the
same societies. They both had similar beliefs about marriage and seen women as superior beings.
Both groups were matrists. “Their heresy which the Church was fighting was matrism=the
only thing which offers an absolutely fundamental threat to pratism.” (Muller, 13) According
to Muller, the Cathar’s and troubadour’s involvement with death, worship of chastity, were not
normal to the Church. The growth of matrism within the patrist culture contributed to Cathar’s
and Troubadours “borrowings from Christianity. To gain back control over a wide spreading
“heresy”, the Church got on defense and began a war against heresy. (Muller, 14). Courtly love
became its on religion. Its ideology was a parody to the Catholic Church. In the 13th century, the
Albigensian Crusade wiped out Troubadours and Cathars.
There is no doubt that the Troubadours ideas of courtly love had a major influence of
Southern France and other regions in the medieval times. From the later 11th century to the 13th
century, courtly love evolved from mystic and spiritual aspect to a sensual and social-political
aspect. It’s influences from, and its influences on the Church has been evident it several writings.
4
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
It influence along with those of the Cathars became so popular that a crusade was needed to stop
effects of courtly love.
5
Aisha H. Blandneburg
HIST220
WIKI PAPER
Work Cited:
Carnal | Define Carnal at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for
English
Definitions. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carnal>.
"Carnal | Define Carnal at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Free Online Dictionary for
English Definitions. Web. 30 Apr. 2011. <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carnal>
Delahoyde, Michael. "Courtly Love." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington.
Fauriel, C. Histoire de la Poesie provencale. Paris, 1846.
Moller, Herbert. "The Meaning of Courtly Love." American Folklore (1960): 39-52. Print.
Washington State University. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.wsu.edu/~delahoyd/medieval/love.html>.
6