Anonimo, “Totas honors e tuig faig benestan” (BdT 461.234)

Abstract

This paper will examine an anonymous ‘planh’, “Totas honor e tuig faig benestan”, for the death of Manfred of Swabia, illegitimate son of Frederick II, who was killed in the battle of Benevento in 1266. The text is copied in a section of the ‘twin’ chansonniers I and K which contains mainly lyric laments (an exception in the troubadour manuscript tradition) and for this reason will serve as a basis for a discussion of the concept of ‘documentary series’. The paper will also consider the author’s origin, probably Italian on the basis of the linguistic and metrical evidence, and attempt to place the planh more precisely within the context of the struggle between Charles of Anjou and Manfred, as well as illustrate the role played by political troubadour poetry at the Italian court of the last Swabians.

Keywords

• Totas honors e tuig faig benestan
• Troubadours
• Old Occitan
• Textual criticism
• Interpretation