Arnau March

Who is Arnau March?

Arnau March was a Provenço-Catalan knight and poet of the famous March family. He was related—it is unknown how—to Jaume I, Jaume II, Pere, and Ausiàs March. He bore the rank of mossèn. He was active during the life and consortship of Margarida de Prades, to whom he addressed one poem, and before the compilation of the Cançoner Vega-Aguiló, which contains three of his poems. In total, he has left only six pieces of verse. His dates suggest that he came a generation or two after the brothers Jaume II and Pere and one before Ausiàs. He may have been a nephew of the former and cousin of the latter, but it cannot be proved.

Arnau's work can be divided into three types: his three religious and three amorous pieces, and a single fragment preserved in part by Pere Torroella. His religious masterpiece is the Visió de la Verge Maria which, in a solemn and pious tone, heaps praise on the Virgin Mary, the angels, Apostles, martyrs, and virgins. Its final tornada makes reference to mercès a vós demana, which may be an allusion to the local cult of Barcelona for Mary Mother of Mercy.