Andreas Capellanus

Andreas Capellanus or Andrew the Chaplain is the author of The Art of Courtly Love. He is thought to have been the priest for Countess Marie de Champagne of Troyes in twelfth century France. Historians know little of his life. However, his name appears on charters as witnesses between 1182 and 1186. He refers to himself in the book as 'chaplain of the royal court' though there is no other evidence for this claim.

Andreas wrote the book on the request of Countess Champagne, who was the daughter of King Louis VII of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Andreas is said to have been an expert on the Art of Courtly Love in part because the practice was elaborated and maintained in Countess Marie's court. The book is thought to have been a parody on Ovid's technical treatises.

It is pretty clear that while Capellanus wrote the book, he...