Author France Marie De

tributed to Marie de France: The Lais of Marie de France (a collection of twelve short narrative poems not unlike shortened versions of romances), the one hundred and two "Ysopet" fables, a retelling of the Legend of the Purgatory of St. Patrick, and, most recently, a saint's life called La Vie seinte Audree about Saint Audrey of Ely. Scholars have dated Marie's works between about 1160 at the earliest, and about 1215 at the latest, though it is probable that they were written between about 1170 and 1205. One of her works, the Lais, is dedicated to a "noble king", another to a "Count William". It is thought that the king referred to is either Henry II of England or his eldest son, "Henry the Young King". The Count William in question is, most likely, either William of Mandeville or William Marshall. It has been suggested that Marie de France was a member of the court Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. In 1816, the English poet Matilda Betham wrote a long poem about Marie de France in octosyllabic couplets, "The Lay of Marie". What is known from others:[1] Historical Context:[7] Crusades: Christian European military enterprise seeking to gain control of the Holy Land (Palestine). Though claiming spiritual motivations, the Crusades had much to do with looting and pillaging of both pagan and Christian lands and opening and controlling vital trade routes with the East. The First Crusade was called by Pope Urban II and resulted in the conquest of Jerusalem in 1099. Though often resulting in military disasters, the Crusades brought to Europe an unprecedented influx of Eastern riches (silks, spices, jewels, etc.) which radically transformed the way of life of aristocrats. Court of Henry II (r. 1154-1189) and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine; parents of Richard the Lionheart and John Lackland Rise of women like Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204) and her daughter, Marie de Champagne, to positions of power and influence; role of women as patrons in the development of courtly culture; powerful women as centers of a courtly culture of love promoting values of courtesy and refinement in human behavior and relationships Courtly love: practices of amorous dalliance at the courts, often involving adulterous relationships which were celebrated in poetry and narrative; jealous and brutish old husbands are portrayed as the villains in a variety of tales and poems, while beautiful ladies and their lovers (young knights, talented poets, witty clerks) enjoy themselves at their expense Courtly literature: love poetry composed by courtly poets known as troubadours (e.g. Bernart de Ventadorn, in southern France) and trouvères (e.g. Thibaut de Champagne, in northern France); also narrative poetic romances telling stories of love and adventure (e.g. the Lais of Marie de France and the romances of Chrêtien de Troyes). The animosity of the Catholic Church against the courtly culture of southern France led to the launching of a military and moral crusade against the supposed heresies practiced there (Albigensian Crusade, 1209-1229). The crusaders looted and destroyed all the main cultural centers of southern France and effectively put an end to courtly culture.