The Development of Courtly Love in the Languedoc

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Where did the modern western concept of love come from? We tend to assume that it is a wholly natural part of human nature, but a look around pre-medieval and non-western cultures shows that it is neither inherent, nor anything to do with Christianity. Some authors have suggested that it has developed from the concept of courtly love, an invention of the Troubadours f the Languedoc.

It seems indisputable that the idea of courtly love was developed by the Troubadours in and around the Languedoc and the Aquitaine. It is also true that this development took place at the same time that Catharism eclipsed Catholicism in the hearts of the people north of the Pyrenees, which was also the time that Kabbalistic studies re-emerged into the light.

Perhaps more significant is the effect of Moslem Spain. At this same time, the twelfth century, the Duke of Aquitaine conquered territory south of the Pyrenees, and part of the booty was some 200 harem girls skilled in singing and poetry. The Duke was soon succeeded by William IX a young man who is now recognised as the very first troubadour.

We will probably never untangle the various threads leading to the development of courtly love and hence the modern western concept of love, but a good start is provided by Denis de Rougement, Love in the Western World. If you click on the icon to the right of this page you can see more detail from Amazon, including a number of reviews.