Elias de Barjols

Who is Elias de Barjols?

Elias de Barjols was a bourgeois Aquitainian troubadour who eventually established roots in Provence as a landed nobleman. Thirteen of his lyrics survive, but none of his music.

Elias was from the castle of Pérols-sur-Vézère in the Agenais, the son of a merchant. According to his vida he was the greatest singer of his age and he travelled widely from court to court as a jongleur with a fellow jongleur named Oliver. They eventually found favour with Alfonso II of Provence, who gave them wives and land in Barjols, where they became known as the lords of Barjols.

According to his vida Elias fell in love with Garsenda of Sabran, the widow of Alfonso II, and composed songs for her "as long as she lived". He later entered a hospital of the Fratres Pontifices founded by Beneic in Avignon, where he died.

Elias was a practitioner of the trobar leu style. Among his works are two descorts, a partimen, and twelve cansos. Before 1191 Elias wrote a poem describing the cavalier soissebut with his characteristics taken from his contemporaries, in imitation of a work by Bertran de Born in which the domna soissebuda is described by features of the exemplary noblewomen of Bertran's time. Elias constructs this knight for his lady from the "charm" of Aimar V of Limoges, the "gracious wit" of Dalfi d'Alvernha, the "generosity" of Eble V of Ventadorn, the "gaiety" of Pons de Capdoill, and the "poetical talents" of Raimon de Miraval.