Garsenda, Countess of Forcalquier
Garsenda was the Countess of Provence as the wife of Alfonso II from 1193 and the Countess of Forcalquier in her own right from 1209, which was subsequently united with that of Provence. She was also a patron of Occitan literature, especially the troubadours, and herself wrote some lyric poetry and is counted among the trobairitz as Garsenda de Proensa. She was, in the words of her most recent editors, "one of the most powerful women in Occitan history".
Garsenda as she appears on her seal, from drawing by Louis Blancard (1860)
Tomb of Garsenda of Forcalquier, Abbey of La Celle
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages (1100–1350). Since the word troubadour is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz.
The troubadour Perdigon playing his fiddle.
William IX of Aquitaine portrayed as a knight, who first composed poetry on returning from the Crusade of 1101
Trobadours, 14th century
Musicians in the time of the Cantigas de Santa Maria. These were in the court of the king, two vielle players and one citoler.