About Joan de Castellnou
Born 1350. Joan de Castellnou was a French troubadour and composer.
Joan's text is the prose text at the top. Raimon's text is the verse on the bottom. Joan de Castellnou (; fl. 1341–1355) was a troubadour of the Consistori del Gay Saber active in Toulouse. He left behind five or six cansos, three vers, a dansa, a conselh, and a sirventes. His most famous works are non-lyric, however: a grammar (compendi) called Las flors del gay saber, estier dichas las Leys d'amors and a glossary (glosari) on the Doctrinal (1324) of his predecessor, Raimon de Cornet.
Joan's Glosari, usually dated to 1341, is a critical analysis of the Doctrinal, not a complete grammar in and of itself. It is dedicated to Peter, Count of Ribagorza. His Leys, however, is the latest and largest medieval Occitan grammatical treatise written with intention of preserving the literary form of the language. It is highly systematic and highly prescriptive. Its double title indicates the close relationship in the medieval lyrical tradition between the science of poetry (gay saber) and the art of love (amors). The dating of the Leys is less certain, Boase puts it between 1328 and 1337, while Jeanroy places it later, in 1355. It was probably commissioned by the Consistori to be a compendium of grammatical knowledge for a wide audience and to "unveil" the secret art of poetry. Its author—who goes unnamed, but is usually identified with Joan today—also seeks to restrain lovers from dishonest love. A parallel has been noticed between the Leys and the prologue of the Libro de Buen Amor of Juan Ruiz.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Joan de Castellnou?
Occitan troubadour
When was Joan de Castellnou born?
Joan de Castellnou was born in 1350.
What was Joan de Castellnou's occupation?
Joan de Castellnou was a troubadour and composer.
What nationality was Joan de Castellnou?
Joan de Castellnou was French.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Joan de Castellnou
· DBpedia: Joan de Castellnou
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joan de Castellnou. https://biography.guide/joan-de-castellnou/
MLA: "Joan de Castellnou." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joan-de-castellnou/.
Chicago: "Joan de Castellnou." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joan-de-castellnou/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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