. Professional performers best known for propagating the chansons de geste, jongleurs also performed more mundane acts, such as acting, doing stunts, dancing, and bear baiting. Since the jongleurs normally sang the works of another and belonged to a lower class, they are regularly distinguished from the trouvères, who by definition “found,” that is, created themselves, the songs they sang and did not participate in the other aspects of the jongleurs’ art. Deriving from Old French jogleor, itself from Latin joculator ‘jokester, comedian,’ the form jongleur dates from the 16th century and is a contamination of jangler ‘to chat, to gossip.’
The jongleurs’ trade apparently emerged about the 8th century, although attestation of the word itself occurs only in the 9th. The church early on recognized the danger of uncontrolled histrionics during holy festivities, but since jongleurs also recited saints’ lives ecclesiastical authority began to favor them, and some few acquired prestige. As a rule, however, their low social class made them outcasts, so that they were often rejected and prohibited from participating in the church services.
The 13th century has been labeled the golden age of the jongleur, when he was both respected and admired. Handsome rewards accruing to some attracted recruits from among artisans and peasantry, sometimes including women. Jongleurs amused the common folk by enlivening their fairs, saints’ days, and other popular events. Occasions to seek their services abounded: return from battle, dubbing of knights, marriages, funerals. Along with their tales, songs, and acrobatics, they brought dancing, to the consternation of moralists. Jongleurs were often consid-ered a necessary touch of elegance in aristocratic courts. They traveled from castle to castle seeking hospitality and employment. Those permanently hired in the courts were called ménéstrels. Typically, the court was seated around the banquet table, and as the meal began a jongleur might recite a romance or announce the serving of the courses. But these were preludes to the core of the contribution, which came after dinner with instrumental music, community singing, and acting.
Jongleurs were rarely paid with money. Their salary consisted above all of food and drink, after which ranked clothing. A lord and his guests occasionally would shower the performers with rich gifts in order to outdo each other. Only then could a jongleur pay off the debts he had accumulated at the tavern or satisfy his family with capon and wine.
In the 15th century, the jongleur art broke up into specialties. Lower status came to those who emphasized acrobatics and prestidigitation; musicians and poets rose in prestige.
