William of Tudela
Encyclopedia
William of Tudela was the author of the first part of the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise
or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade
against the Cathars.
According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was born in Tudela
in Navarre
(Spain
). He refers to himself as maestre and clerc, indicating that his studies entitled him to the title of Master and that he had taken minor orders
. He specifically states that he studied geomancy
.
In or around 1199, William of Tudela went to Montauban
(France
) and lived there for 11 years. He claims that his knowledge of the future through geomancy impelled him to move in 1210 to Bruniquel
, which had then just been bestowed on Baldwin, estranged brother of Count Raymond VI of Toulouse
. The result of this move (and possibly one of its aims) was that William entered Baldwin's service. He became canon at Saint-Antonin
(which, in the course of the Albigensian Crusade, Simon IV de Montfort had just captured and given to Baldwin). More importantly, William now began to compose the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise. Work on the first part of this poem began in 1210, William implies, though in the form now known it seems to have been written in its entirety in 1213.
Our knowledge of William's life ends in 1213 or 1214. One date is that of the capture (on 17 February 1214) and subsequent execution of Baldwin by his brother Raymond. William's poem speaks of Baldwin as still alive. Moreover, William's poem ends before the Battle of Muret
on 12 September 1213: Baldwin's participation on the winning side in that battle, in which Raymond lost Toulouse
and Raymond's feudal overlord Peter II of Aragon
was killed, was the excuse for his execution as a traitor. If William survived these events, he was at any rate impelled by them to stop writing. The second part of the Chanson is written by another, unknown, poet.
Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise
The Song of the Albigensian Crusade is an Old Occitan epic poem narrating events of the Albigensian Crusade from March 1208 to June 1219. Modelled on the Old French chanson de geste, it was composed in two distinct parts: William of Tudela wrote the first towards 1213, and an anonymous continuator...
or Song of the Albigensian Crusade, an epic poem in Occitan giving a contemporary account of the crusade
Albigensian Crusade
The Albigensian Crusade or Cathar Crusade was a 20-year military campaign initiated by the Catholic Church to eliminate Catharism in Languedoc...
against the Cathars.
According to his own account in the first lines of his poem, William was born in Tudela
Tudela, Navarre
Tudela is a municipality in Spain, the second city of the autonomous community of Navarre. Its population is around 35,000. Tudela is sited in the Ebro valley. Fast trains running on two-track electrified railways serve the city and two freeways join close to it...
in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). He refers to himself as maestre and clerc, indicating that his studies entitled him to the title of Master and that he had taken minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
. He specifically states that he studied geomancy
Geomancy
Geomancy is a method of divination that interprets markings on the ground or the patterns formed by tossed handfuls of soil, rocks, or sand...
.
In or around 1199, William of Tudela went to Montauban
Montauban
Montauban is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is the capital of the department and lies north of Toulouse....
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) and lived there for 11 years. He claims that his knowledge of the future through geomancy impelled him to move in 1210 to Bruniquel
Bruniquel
Bruniquel is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France.-Geography:The tiny fortified village of 561 inhabitants is at an altitude of 250 metres by the river Aveyron....
, which had then just been bestowed on Baldwin, estranged brother of Count Raymond VI of Toulouse
Raymond VI of Toulouse
Raymond VI was count of Toulouse and marquis of Provence from 1194 to 1222. He was also count of Melgueil from 1173 to 1190.-Early life:...
. The result of this move (and possibly one of its aims) was that William entered Baldwin's service. He became canon at Saint-Antonin
Saint-Antonin
-In France:*Saint-Antonin, Alpes-Maritimes, in the Alpes-Maritimes département*Saint-Antonin, Gers, in the Gers département*Saint-Antonin-de-Lacalm, in the Tarn département*Saint-Antonin-de-Sommaire, in the Eure département...
(which, in the course of the Albigensian Crusade, Simon IV de Montfort had just captured and given to Baldwin). More importantly, William now began to compose the Chanson de la Croisade Albigeoise. Work on the first part of this poem began in 1210, William implies, though in the form now known it seems to have been written in its entirety in 1213.
Our knowledge of William's life ends in 1213 or 1214. One date is that of the capture (on 17 February 1214) and subsequent execution of Baldwin by his brother Raymond. William's poem speaks of Baldwin as still alive. Moreover, William's poem ends before the Battle of Muret
Battle of Muret
At the Battle of Muret on 12 September 1213 the Crusading army of Simon IV de Montfort defeated the Aragonese and Catalan forces of Peter II of Aragon, at Muret near Toulouse.-Background:...
on 12 September 1213: Baldwin's participation on the winning side in that battle, in which Raymond lost Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
and Raymond's feudal overlord Peter II of Aragon
Peter II of Aragon
Peter II the Catholic was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1196 to 1213.He was the son of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile...
was killed, was the excuse for his execution as a traitor. If William survived these events, he was at any rate impelled by them to stop writing. The second part of the Chanson is written by another, unknown, poet.