De Amore

Capellanus, Andreas | 12th century
Andreas Capellanus, also known as Andrew the Chaplain and André le Chapelain, was a twelfth-century author, is best known for his work De Amore (Latin prose, c. 1185), which is a significant treatise on courtly love. While the work is often regarded as a satire or parody, it provides insights into the conventions and ideals of courtly love during the medieval period.
De Amore De Amore translates to “The Love,” a treatise, which is a guide on the practice and etiquette of courtly love, a medieval European conception of love that emphasized noble and chivalrous expressions of admiration and affection.
Story Involving Arthur’s Court De Amore includes a brief narrative involving a young knight who seeks to win the prize hawk from King Arthur’s court for his lady. The knight faces various challenges, including engaging in double combat with two other knights, obtaining the hawk’s gauntlet, and proving his lady’s greater beauty in jousts at Arthur’s court.
Rules of Love Tied to the Hawk After the knight successfully accomplishes the challenges and obtains the prize hawk, he discovers a parchment tied to it. This parchment contains the rules of love, providing guidelines and principles governing the conduct of courtly love.
Satirical Element De Amore is often considered a satirical or tounge-in-cheek exploration of courtly love conventions. Some scholars interpret the work as a critique or parody of the exaggerated and artifical nature of courtly love literature.
Influence and Reception Despite its potentially satirical nature, De Amore had an influence on the literature and culture of the time. The treatise reflects the complex and sometimes playful attitudes toward love, social hierarchy, and gender roles in medieval European courts.
Andreas Capellanus’s De Amore remains a valuable text for understanding the cultural and literary aspects of courtly love in the medieval period. While the work may incorporate elements of satire, it provides a window into the ideals and conventions that shaped the concept of courtly love during that era.