Historically Speaking Part 1: Trobaritz

Have you ever read a book and wondered where certain ideas come from? Have you ever read or seen something and thought that did not seem right or plausible?

It is true that the world of Ballads of the Unseen (BotU) is not based in reality as a fantasy world but there are certain things from Earth which helped to inspire several pieces of Naquin. For the next month I will be discussing the insights found in Song of Awakeing (SoA) with y'all. We'll begin the series with a word Miharena often uses to describe herself

Most people have heard of a Bard, however have you ever heard of a Minstrel? Dirge? Troubador or Trobaritz?

In an online game I play there are two types of bard you can play: Dirge or Troubador.

The latter is incorrect as Inigo Montoya so aptly once said "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means,"

A female Troubador/Troubadour would be called a Trobaritz

While I was doing research concerning medieval instruments I came across a word which caught my interest: Trobaritz. According to a well documented Wikipedia article "The trobaritz were Occitan female troubadors of the 12 and 13th centuries, active from around 1170 to approximately 1260" the article further goes on to say the word Trobaritz originates from "the Provencal word Trobar, the literal meaning of which is 'to find', and the technical meaning of which is 'to compose'" Both the literal and technical meanings fit any bard. Trobaritz find legends or they compose them. The word was rarely used during the time period but it was used. Over the many years it has been forgotten. When I found the term and read the meaning the first time I knew it described Miharena more accurately than simply calling her a Bard. For this reason I decided to ressurect the term. Miharena often refers to herself as a Trobaritz although a few characters still refer to her and Sir Windgravy as Bards.

If you would would like to learn more about the Trobaritz the article can be found here