ABSTRACT
William, ninth duke of Aquitaine (1071-1126), was the fi rst troubadour of whom records survive, both a noble and a lyric poet who employed his own romance vernacular, ‘Occitan’. He was twice divorced, twice (nearly three times) excommunicated and is remembered in an anonymous thirteenth-century vida ‘life’ as ‘one of the most courtly men in the world and one of the greatest deceivers of women. He was a fi ne knight at arms, liberal in his womanising, and a fi ne composer and singer of songs. He travelled much through the world, seducing women.’
