What was NOT called “courtly love” in the Middle Ages But properly called “fin amor”

The term “courtly love” is a 19 th century invention. Was possibly coined by Gaston Paris, a translation from Provençal “cortez amors” Much of the myth and literary viewpoints of courtly love were developed and elaborated on in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries At this distance, it’s harder to be sure what the Middle Ages thought of the subject

Confluence of Forces Introduction of stirrup in 8 th /9 th centuries led to class of warriors mounted on horseback— chevaliers Set of behavioral expectations evolved for this class of warriors--chivalry

Cultural Imperatives Social class distinctions—emerging concepts of feudalism Church’s need to control civilian power structures Late 10 th c. onwards—affective piety and worship of Virgin Mary as intercessor Politics—Crusades and the disruption caused by travel and family separation Economics—need for major noble families to move and divide households and circulate from one residence to another

Fin amor is a code of behavioral expectations that govern a particular class of people in a particular time frame It is a codified set of historical practices that governed and determined complex social, political, and class interactions.

Continental Influences 11 th century troubadours and trouvéres Southern and central France—particularly around the Angevin court—Andreas Capellanus (going back to Ovid) Spread across Europe through vehicle of Crusades—at least some Arabic influence—really start to see it after 1 st Crusade (1099 C.E.)

Those pesky Angevins…

As codified by G. Paris, “courtly love” in a literary sense is An idealizing love based on man’s sexual attraction to woman Lover accepts beloved’s independence Lover attempts to win beloved’s admiration by accomplishing noble deeds, living virtuously, and thus conveying renown to the lady—calls her midons (term of feudal vassalage) Sexual satisfaction not always expected

Quickly popularized C.S. Lewis, The Allegory of Love (1936) – Talked about “the religion of love” – Assumed that actual adultery was part of the system – Also assumed that humility and courtesy were parts of the system Seen in a lot of later scholarship as a “truth” of the Middle Ages

The actual circumstances are harder to pin down Hard to accept that nobility would patronize a system that encouraged adultery and infidelity (too dangerous to inheritance rights) Church seems to have endorsed at least some of it as building moral virtue Best to think of it as a highly-codified role- playing game

“The Rules” Largely those established in The Art of Courtly Love—complete with RPG scenarios Govern behavior among people who are NOT married Incorporate emerging cultural & religious expectations for behavior of chivalric class Probably culminate in establishment of Order of the Garter (1344…or maybe 1348…) by Edward III By Malory’s time, an archaic concept but still valued—practices mostly gone but attitudes remained.