Lorete facts for kids
Lorete was a special kind of medieval artist called a trouvère. She was one of only eight women known by name who wrote and composed songs and poems in Old French. We only know her first name, Lorete.
Her only known work is a song called Lorete, suer, par amor. This means "Lorete, sister, in the name of love." It's a type of song called a jeu parti, which is like a debate set to music. In this song, Lorete debates with an unnamed "sister." The song also uses words from the Lorrain dialect, which was spoken in the Lorraine region of France.
What Was a Trouvère?
A trouvère was a poet and composer in northern France during the Middle Ages. They wrote and performed their own songs. These songs were often about love, chivalry, or current events. Trouvères were similar to troubadours, who were poets from southern France.
Lorete's Debate Song
Lorete's debate song, Lorete, suer, par amor, is about choosing between two men who want to marry her. Lorete likes the man who is a bit shy. He approaches her indirectly through her friends. Her "sister," however, thinks the other man is better. He openly tells Lorete he loves her. The "sister" even compares Lorete's preferred man to Reynard the Fox, a sneaky character from old fables.
Who Judged the Debate?
The song was meant to be judged by two other important women. These judges were Jeanne d'Aspremont, the countess of Leiningen, and her sister, Mahaut. Mahaut was the lady of Commercy. Both of these women were well-known in the circles of trouvères. They were even mentioned by another poet, Jacques Bretel, at a big event called the Tournament of Chauvency in October 1285.
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