Trouvère

Trouvère, the name given in northern France to the same kind of courtly or polished poet who in southern France, &c. was called Troubadour (see etymology at PROVENCAL). Like the latter, he was usually attended by a jongleur, whose business it was to furnish an instrumental accompaniment to the songs which his master composed and sung. But the distinction was far from absolute, for many trouvères performed their own works, and many jongleurs made and mended verses. See CHANSONS DE GESTES, JONGLEURS, FRANCE (LITERATURE), ROLAND.