by Jean Gill
Regia Anglorum Re-enactment Group for permission to use a photo on the front cover https://regia.org/
John N. Green, University of Bradford, for his help with the lyrics and translation of Ventadorn’s The Lark. All wilful interpretations and (mis)translations are mine, not his.
Quotations from Ventadorn’s poetry are from Martin de Riquer’s version
Riquer, Martín de (ed.) (1940) Bernatz de Ventadorn. Poesía. Selección, traducción y prólogo de Martín de Riquer (Poetas Catalano - Provenzales, 1). Barcelona: Editorial Yunque, 119 pp. [Introduction by MdeR (7-13), biography of BdeV by Uc de Saint Circ (14-21, bilingual Occitan and Spanish in parallel text), 13 poems with Spanish translation, notes.
Excerpts from The Trotula, translated by Monica H.Green. reprinted by kind permission of University of Pennsylvania Press.
Excerpts from Hildegard von Bingen’s Physica, translated by Priscilla Throop, reprinted by kind permission of Healing Arts Press.
Map of the Spanish Kingdoms, courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
Map of France 1154 is in the Public Domain.
Map of Wales 986-99 (Maredudd ab Owain), courtesy of AlexD under the Creative Commons license.
Historical sources that were particularly useful were:
Henry II – W.L. Warren
The Lord Rhys – Roger Turvey
A Journey through Wales – Gerald of Wales (translated by Lewis Thorpe) Penguin Classics
Medieval Iberia (Readings from Christian, Muslim and Jewish Sources) – edited by Olivia Remie Constable
Royal Bastards 800-1230 – Sara McDougall
The Usatges of Barcelona (the fundamental law of Catalonia) – translated by Donald J. Kagay
The Sultan’s Sex Potions (Arab Aphrodisiacs in the Middle Ages) – Nasīr al-Dīn al-Tūsī (translated by Daniel L. Newman)
Le Mesnagier de Paris – Collection dirigée par Michael Zink (livre de poche)
L’amor de Lonh: Medieval Songs of Love and Loss (musical CD) – Ensemble Gilles Binchois. The first track is the haunting Sephardic love song Estela hears in Chapter 3
Poems of Arab Andalusia – translated by Cola Franza (City Lights Publishers)
Too many online sources to mention, including the medieval Welsh dictionary
Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru http://welsh-dictionary.ac.uk/gpc/gpc.html
Maps
A 1903 map showing the kingdoms and key cities of Hispania/ Spain in 1210, by which time the Almohads have gained much of the south, including El Rey Lobo’s kingdom of Murcia. As this is a ‘modern’ map, it shows lines of latitude and longitude, curved in the awareness that the earth is round.
The Spanish Kingdoms 1210
A map of France in 1154, showing the Angevin Empire
Map of Wales 1153
THE WELSH LORDS RHYS and Maredudd expanded their realm of Deheubarth into the territories held by the Frankish Marcher Lords, and they took back Ceredigion from Owain, Lord of Gwynedd.
Historical Note
Warning! There are spoilers in these notes.
My ten year journey with Dragonetz and Estela will never be over because each time a reader reviews my books or contacts me to discuss the 12th century, my stories live again. I could blog about the history behind the books forever and never run out of wonderful material. I promise you that the history most queried in my books as ‘unbelievable’ is that based most solidly on primary sources and academic historians’ research, so here is a little background, to be continued on my blog at www.jeangill.blogspot.com
Estela’s Wise Traveller was inspired by the guide written by an 11th century French lady for her son, that he might read it in the future when he returned home safe after being hostage for his father’s good behaviour. Noble parents and children were often separated by politics and by the custom of fostering other nobles’ children as part of their education, so when Estela leaves Musca to accompany Dragonetz, this was not as hard to understand as nowadays. Aliénor left her toddler to go on the Second Crusade. Some of the practical detail in The Wise Traveller, and elsewhere in my novel, came from Le Mesnagier de Paris, a guide to being a good wife written by an older husband for the young lady he married. Thanks to this book I discovered tests for wives’ obedience, cameline sauce and red nigellas’ use in wine coloration. I also discovered the complexity of medieval gender politics. ‘Above all, enchant him,’ was not a piece of advice I expected amidst all the piety.
I visited Zaragoza on one of what I call my R & R trips – research and romance. I’m not sure what my husband calls them but he is willing to provide the romance. Wearing my photographer hat, I staked out the blue hour so I could shoot the basilica from the bridge. Although the cathedral of 1154 was a different building, its towers would still have presented the magical appearance that Estela sees from the same bridge. The Aljaferia has later layers of building and décor but it, too, has magic.
‘Malik’s ancestral home’ (as I think of it) does have the birds, fruit and even the script by a cheeky architect dating from before 1154: ‘Should you find any mistake in my work, I shall be surprised!’ The Muslim prohibition against representing living beings did not apply in secular buildings. Neither were 12th century Muslim women suppressed in the ways that are often presented in historical fiction. They took a full part in religious and intellectual community life, both in eastern cities such as Damascus and in northern Hispania/Spain.
12th century Gwalia/Wales was not multi-faith or multi-cultural in the way Occitania was. The culture clash was largely between the Franks and the indigenous Welsh, whose nobles adopted the Frankish language and some habits, such as wearing armour. Gerald of Wales is a key source as he is writing in 1170, and is half Welsh and half Norman. I’ve used some of his details, such as haircuts, fighting habits and national characteristics, without trusting them all as facts. As I lived in Deheubarth for over twenty years, the geography is from first-hand knowledge and I have visited the gold-mine at Dolaucothi. I have seen the dragon’s breath on the Tywi and I know the meaning of hiraeth. When Aliénor says she worries that Henri underestimates the importance of Wales, I want to cheer. Underestimating Wales is an English national pastime.
I did find several references to polyphony in medieval Wales, not just in Gerald’s work, at a time when it was at best an early experiment elsewhere in Europe. Gerald provided me with the detail of part song beginning and ending on B flat and of course for Dragonetz to hear his dream in reality is wonderful. Lord Rhys is a character who deserves more recognition and who is credited with holding the first Eisteddfod, so it seemed obvious that Dragonetz sparked the idea, as well as ensuring the success of the brothers ap Gruffydd in regaining their ancestral land in 1153. Lord Rhys’ relationship with King Henri deserves a book in itself, but the fate of Maelgwyn, the missing brother, remains a mystery, as does the death of Maredudd.
While spending time with Estela and Dragonetz, I became obsessed with marriage and bastardy, and was surprised to discover how little codified was the status of either in 1154. Towards the end of the 12th century many loose cultural norms were hardened into laws but the notion of the ‘medieval period’ as covering 400 years leads to popular misconceptions about a time period as narrow as my books. The Troubadours Quartet takes place between 1150 and 1154, which was a period of change, fluidity and far more sophistication than is usually credited.
I wanted to keep the flavour of the medieval period and the many languages my characters speak so I play with place names, trying to be consistent within The Troubadours books and to let readers recognise the modern places. Gwalia is a name still used in Wales despite it being considered insulting in 12th century Cymru.
I have also invented words like ‘jongling’ from the French ‘jongleur’, the origin of juggler. I hope the meanings are clear in context and I know many of my readers enjoy setting off on a treasure hunt after reading the books, tracking down some of the stranger vocabulary and even stranger
historical facts.
I can now tell you the secret of WHY I had to keep to such a narrow time period. It is less than a dog’s life span. I didn’t know when I started writing whether Nici would live or die during the story. Most writers kill off the dog to get an easy emotional jerk reaction from the reader. In a longer time span Nici could not have lived. I wanted him to have the same chance as the human characters of reaching a happy ending. No more: no less.
Dragonetz and Estela are fictional characters living in real historical events and I have tried to bring them and their world to life. I hope you enjoyed your visit to the 12th century and that it felt real to you.
I contacted several historians as part of my research and had some wonderful replies. This one is printed on my desk, to motivate me. We all love history. Thank you for sharing The Troubadours with me, and may we find new books and new adventures together.
‘Historical fiction is a GREAT way to educate! Make (your readers) care enough to come looking for me or send their children to me, or even better, have some perspective, that's really all I ask.’
Do stop by the Troubadours page on facebook and have fun with the TVTrope page
Historical Characters appearing in the Troubadours series
Occitania/Provence
Aaron ben Asher – Jewish sage, who annotated the sacred Torah later known as the Keter Aram Sola/ the Aleppo Codex
Abd-al-Malik – the last King of Zaragoza, grandfather of my invented character Malik
Aliénor of Aquitaine/ Eleanor of Aquitaine – Duchess of Aquitaine and Queen of France
Abraham ben Isaac/ Raavad II – Jewish leader in Narbonne
Alphonse, nicknamed ‘Jourdain’/ ‘Jordan’– Comte de Toulouse, father of Raymond, killed by poison in Caesarea in 1148
Alphonso, King of Castile, Emperor of Hispania – died in 1144 leaving his estate to the Templars
Bèatriz – the future Comtesssa de Dia/Comtesse de Die and famous troubairitz
Bernard de Clairvaux – advisor to Louis, abbot leading and reforming the Cistercian order
Bernard d’Anduze – Ermengarda’s titular husband, brother of the Archbishop of Narbonne
Bernard de Tremelay – Templar Grand Master 1151
Constance – widow of the Prince of Antioch, Mélisende’s niece
Dolca – Etiennette’s sister, heir to Provence, grandmother to the young Comte, Ramon Berenguer II
Archbishop of Narbonne, Pierre d’Anduze – brother of Ermengarda’s husband
El Rey Lobo, the Wolf King, Abu ’Abd Allāh Muhammad ibn Mardanīš – King of Murcia
Ermengarda/Ermengarde – Viscomtesse of Narbonne
Etiennette/Stéphania – widowed Lady of Les Baux-de-Provence
Geoffroi de Rançon (the father) – Commander of Aliénor’s Guard in 1148
Geoffroi de Rançon (the son) – possibly more than one
Guilhelm de Poitiers – married Bèatriz
Hugues des Baux – Lord of Les-Baux-de-Provence, son of Etiennette
Isoard, Comte de Dia/Die – Bèatriz’ father (very little known about Bèatriz)
Montcada family – powerful Barcelone nobles, advisors to the Prince
Pedro of Aragon – 1152-1157 heir to Aragon, son of Petronilla and Ramon Berenguer IV
Petronilla – Queen of Aragon, married to Ramon Berenguer IV
Pons family – the rulers of Les-Baux-de-Provence
Porcelet family – (First names are my invention)
Ramon Trencavel – brother to Roger and Comte de Carcassonne on his brother’s death in 1150
Ramon Berenguer IV – ‘El Sant’, Comte de Barcelone, Prince of Aragon and Regent of Provence
Ramon Berenguer II – Comte de Provence, nephew to ‘El Sant’
Raymond V – Comte de Toulouse
Raymond and Stéphania (Etiennette) of Les Baux – rulers in Provence
Roger Trencavel, Comte de Carcassonne – died in 1150
Sicard de Llautrec – ally of Toulouse
The troubadours – Jaufre Rudel, Marcabru, Cercamon, Peire Rogier from the Auvergne, Raimbaut d’Aurenja/Raymon of Aurenja, Guiraut de Bornelh, Bernart de Ventadorn
In charge of the Templar Commandery at Douzens – Peter Radels, Master; Isarn of Molaria and Bernard of Roquefort, joint Commanders
Frankish Lands, the Kingdom of France
Archbishop Suger – royal prelate in Paris, adviser to King Louis
Eustace IV – Count of Boulogne, King Stephen’s son and heir. Died 1153, suspected food poisoning
Henri d’Anjou, King of England – married Aliénor (2nd husband)
Louis VII – King of France, married to Aliénor
de Maurienne, Comte – uncle and adviser to Louis VII
Matilda, Empress Matilda – briefly Queen of England, Stephen’s cousin, mother to Henri d’Anjou
Stephen de Blois – King of England from 1135-1154
William I – Comte de Boulogne (after brother’s death 1153) King Stephen’s son, gave up claim to throne
Wales/Gwalia
Cadell ap Gruffydd – Rhys’ brother, ruler of Deheubarth from 1143-1151 (his attack and renunciation)
Cadwaladr ap Gruffudd – Owain of Gwynnedd’s brother, accused of murdering Rhys’ brother Anarawd
Gruffudd ap Cynan – King of Gwynedd (1055-1137)
Gruffydd ap Rhys – Lord of Deheubarth, father of Rhys, Maredudd, Cadell 1081-1137
Gwenllian the Warrior Princess – wife of Gruffydd ap Rhys d 1136 beheaded on battlefield
Maredudd ap Gruffydd – Rhys’ brother. Joint ruler of Deheubarth from 1151-1155 (his death)
Maurice de Londres – Frankish Lord of Kidwelly who defeated Gwenllian in 1136
Owain ap Gruffudd – ruler of Gwynedd from 1137-1170, Gwenllian’s brother
Rhys ap Gruffydd – Lord of Deheubarth 1155-1197
Welsh bards – Taliesin, Aneurin
Oltra mar/ The Holy Land
Amaury – younger son of Mélisende
Baudouin, King of Jerusalem – Mélisende’s son
Chirkhouh – Nur ad-Din’s general, killed Prince Raymond of Antioch
Everard des Barres – Grand Master of the Templars during the Second Crusade
Foulques – King of Jerusalem by marriage to Mélisende. Died 1146
Hodierne, Comtesse de Tripoli – sister of Mélisende, Queen of Jerusalem
Ismat ad-Dhin – Nur ad-Din’s wife, Unur’s daughter
Joscelyn, Comte d’Edessa – deserted and lost the city to Muslim forces, starting the Second Crusade
Maimonides – Jewish philosopher
Manassés – Constable of Jerusalem
Mélisende – Queen of Jerusalem
Mujir ad-Din – ruler of Damascus, 1151
Nur ad-Din – Muslim Atabeg (ruler and general), uncle of Saladin
Raymond, Comte de Tripoli – Hodierne’s husband and relation of Toulouse, killed by Assassins in 1152
Raymon/Ramon/Raymond, Prince of Antioch – Aliénor’s uncle and rumoured lover, killed by Saracen troops in 1148
Raymond de Puy – Hospitalers’ Grand Master 1151
Saint Paul/ Saul of Tarsus – famously converted on the road to Damascus
Salah ad-Din/Saladin – Muslim leader during the Third Crusade
Unur – Muslim general, defended Damascus in the Second Crusade
Zengi/Imad ad-Din Zengi – father of Nur ad-Din, murdered in 1146
Persian poets – Omar Khayyam, Sanai
The Hashashins/Assassins – the Isma’ili Muslim sect
Elsewhere in Christendom
Conrad – Holy Roman Emperor, ruler of the Germanic peoples
Jarl Rognvaldr Kali Kolsson – Prince of Orkney
Manuel Komnenos/Comnenus – Emperor of Byzantium
Pope Eugene III
Medical authorities – Aristotle, Ahmad ibn Abi al-Ash’ath, Al-Razi, Hildegard von Bingen, Galen, Hippocrates, Inb al-Haytham, Nicolaus of Salerno, Trota, Plato, Pythagoras, Yahja Ib
n Adi.
Main Fictional Characters
The Troubadours
Estela de Matin – troubadour name of Roxeane de Montbrun (a domain near Carcassonne)
Dragonetz, nicknamed los Pros, ‘the Brave’ – ex-crusader, troubadour and son of Lord Dragon of Ruffec in Aquitaine. Dragonetz means ‘little Dragon’ in Occitan
Txamusca, nicknamed Musca – the troubadours’ son. His name means ‘Fire’ in Occitan
Nici – a Great Pyrenees dog, useless with sheep, who ran away with Estela. His name means ‘Useless’ in Occitan
Prima – the wet-nurse, first Raoulf’s mistress, then Gilles’ lover
Primo – Prima’s son and Musca’s foster-brother
Estela’s family and entourage
Savaric Tibau de Montbrun – Estela’s father, castellan of Montbrun, vassal to Carcassonne and his Liege of Toulouse
Costansa de Montbrun – Estela’s stepmother, responsible for Estela’s exile from the family home
Miquel de Montbrun – Estela’s brother, corrupted from childhood by Costansa
Johans de Villeneuve – Estela’s husband in a marriage arranged for her as a favour by Ermengarda of Narbonne and Aliénor of Aquitaine
Peire de Quadra, 'Peire the Stable' – with whom Estela had her first sexual encounter, murdered by her brother
Gilles Lackhand – Estela’s man, her protector from childhood after her mother died. He helped her escape from Ruffec and was punished by having a hand removed
Dragonetz’ family and entourage
Lord Dragon de Ruffec – Dragonetz’ father, Lord of Ruffec in Aquitaine, vassal and sometime Commander to Aliénor of Aquitaine
Sadeek – Dragonetz’ prized black Arab destrier, gift from Malik. His name means ‘friend’ in Arabic
Vertat – Dragonetz’ female goshawk, chosen from the falconry at les Baux. Her name means ‘Truth’
