Conon de Béthune

(c.1160 - 1219)



Trouvère, and son of Robert V of Béthune. He was an important soldier, politician and diplomat, a northern French aristocrat who was deeply involved in the Crusades. He was a leading figure at Constantinople on the 1204 Crusade, and composed two Crusade songs that were widely disseminated in MS and are of a higher standard than most of their kind. He wrote an enueg,or satire, attacking the nobles who misappropriated funds donated to help the Crusades.




IIA: Troubadours, Trouvères and Minnesingers