Azalais de Porcairagues

Azalais de Porcairagues (also "Azalaïs") or Alasais de Porcaragues was a trobairitz (woman troubadour), composing in Occitan in the late 12th century.

The sole source for her life is her "vida", which tells us that she came from the country round Montpellier; she was educated and a gentlewoman; she loved Gui Guerrejat, the brother of William VII of Montpellier, and "made many good songs about him"; meaning, probably, that the one poem of hers known to the compiler had been addressed to Gui.

Gui was perhaps born around 1135; he fell ill early in 1178, became a monk, and died later in that year. Nothing is known of the dates of Azalais's birth and death. From her name, and from the statement in the "Biographies" cited above, it can be concluded that she came from the village of Portiragnes, just east of Béziers and about 10 kilometers south of Montpellier, close to the territories that belonged to Gui and to his brothers. Aimo Sakari argues that she is the mysterious "joglar" ("jongleur") addressed in several poems by Raimbaut of Orange (a neighbour, and a cousin of Gui Guerrejat).

One poem attributed to Azalais, classically simple and emotional, survives today. As usually printed it has 52 lines, but the text varies considerably between manuscripts, suggesting that it was not written down immediately on its composition. No music is attached to it. [Maria V. Coldwell. "Azalais de Porcairagues", "Grove Music Online".] The poem alludes to the death in 1173 of Raimbaut of Orange; it was possibly first composed before that date and emended afterwards. The poem's envoi seems to mention Ermengarde of Narbonne (1143-1197), a well known patroness of troubadour poetry.

As observed by Sakari, the third strophe of the poem seems to contribute to a poetical debate begun by Guilhem de Saint-Leidier as to whether a lady is dishonoured by taking a lover who is richer than herself. Raimbaut of Orange also comments in his poem "A mon vers dirai chanso". Soon afterwards there follows a "partimen" on the topic between Dalfi d'Alvernha and Perdigon, and then a "tensó" between Guiraut de Bornelh and king Alfonso II of Aragon.

Excerpt

ources and bibliography

* First stanza in Occitan and English.
* Pierre Bec, "Chants d'amour des femmes-troubadours: trobairitz et chansons de femme" (Paris: Stock, 1995) pp. 65-70: complete poem in Occitan and French.
* "Biographies des troubadours" ed. J. Boutière, A.-H. Schutz (Paris: Nizet, 1964) pp. 341-2.
* A. Sakari, 'Azalais de Porcairagues, le "Joglar" de Raimbaut d'Orange' in "Neuphilologische Mitteilungen" vol. 50 (1949) pp. 23-43, 56-87, 174-198.

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