The troubadour was a member of a class of singer-poet-composers which flourished in France from the end of the eleventh to the end of the thirteenth centuries.
The art of the jongleur or minstrel, found all over Europe from the beginnings of history to comparatively recent times, had no single country for its centre. By contrast, the troubadours appeared specifically in southern France, and spoke the language of Provence. The trouvères lived in central and northern France, and used French.
In both cases, talented members of the nobility came to be included in a class which was generally one of professional musicians. The most well-known of these was Richard C├║ur de Lion (The Lion Heart) of England, who was himself partly Provencal.
Troubadours and trouvères, who were essentially wandering composer-singer-poets, were also found in northern Spain and northern Italy. They are associated with the concept of amour courtois, or courtly love. This medieval, poetic idea elevates the love and dedication of the singer to his lady, who is often married and unobtainable.
The German contemporary counterparts of the trouvères and troubadours were called minnesingers. On their decline these were succeeded by the guilds of mastersingers, who belonged to a lower social class.
