Guilhem de Montanhagol

Guilhem de Montanhagol^[1] (fl. 1233–1268) was a Provençal troubadour, most likely active in Toulouse, but known in the courts of Provence, Toulouse, Castile, and Aragon.^[2][3] Guilhem left behind seven cansos and six sirventes.^[3] He also left behind one tenso (specifically, a partimen) with Sordello (perhaps suggesting a brief sojourn in Lombardy) and his total surviving output comes to fourteen pieces.^[2][3]

Miniature of Montanhagol playing a harp from a 13th-century chansonnier

The meaning of Guilhem's name has been debated. "Montanhagol" means "from Montanhac", but it is not known which of the several places named Montanhac that could be.^[4] For a long time it was thought that the correct form of the troubadour's name was simply "Guilhem Montanhagol", since the "de" (of) would be redundant.^[5] Contemporary documents, however, clearly use "de".^[5]

He was of humble birth.^[2] According to his vida he was from Provence, though some modern scholars suspect he was a Toulousain.^[2][4] His vida records that he was "a good inventor (trobaire) of poetry, and a great lover."^[4] His lover was a lady named Jauseranda from Lunel, the lord of which castle, Raymond Gaucelm V, Guilhem probably knew.^[4]

His cansos are awkward, and he emulated the earlier troubadours, praising mezura (moderation) among all the virtues.^[2] He stated that "from love proceeds chastity" (d'amor mou castitatz), which may mean no more than that love is necessary for fidelity.^[3][6] He has been viewed, most ardently by Cesare de Lollis, as a precursor of the Dolce Stil Novo and as an important link between Occitan and Italian literature through his work with Sordello.^[6][7] He has been credited with an innovative picture of courtly love blended with Christian morality,^[6] and indeed he refers to noel dig de maestria ("a new saying of mastery"), though this is probably not an indication of any conscious reformation.^[8]

Guilhem's political sirventes concern Toulousain and Spanish politics.^[2] Writing in the aftermath of the Albigensian Crusade which devastated Languedoc, Guilhem was an opponent of the Papal Inquisition, though not of the Church itself.^[2] He encouraged the gentle correction of the Cathars, but not their violent suppression by means of war.^[3]

Guilhem was grieved in a planh written by his brother-in-law Pons Santolh.^[3]

Works

• A Lunel lutz una luna luzens
• Ar ab lo coinde pascor
• Del tot vey remaner valor
• Bel m'es quan d'armatz aug refrim
• Ges, per malvastat qu'er veya
• Leu chansoneta m'er a far
• No sap per que va son joy pus tarzan
• Non an tan dig li primier trobador
• Non estarai, per ome qe-m casti
• Nulhs hom no val ni deu esser prezatz
• On mais a hom de valensa
• Per lo mon fan li un dels autres rancura
• Qui vol esser agradans e plazens
• Senh'En Sordel, mandamen