The goliards were a group of young clergy members in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries who wrote humorous and critical Latin poetry. Most of them were priests or students who worked at or studied at universities in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and England. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the church's problems through songs, poems, and performances. These clergy members were not fully committed to religious life and often shared their views during organized events linked to celebrations like the Feast of Fools or during church ceremonies.

Etymology

The origin of the word "goliard" is not clearly known. It may come from the Latin word "gula," which means excessive eating. It could also come from a mythical figure named "Bishop Golias," a version of the name Goliath used in medieval times. Goliath was a giant from the Bible who fought David, who later became King David. This connection suggests that "goliard" might describe people who were seen as unusual or outside of society, as noted by historian Christopher de Hamel. Another possible source is the word "gailliard," meaning "a happy or cheerful person."

Some scholars think the term "goliard" comes from a letter written by Bernard of Clairvaux to Pope Innocent II. In the letter, Bernard called Peter Abelard "Goliath," linking the name to Abelard's students. By the 14th century, the word "goliard" was used to mean "minstrel" and no longer described a specific group of clergy.

Origins of the goliardic tradition

The goliardic class is thought to have started because younger sons needed ways to support themselves. In medieval times, the custom of primogeniture meant the oldest son inherited the family's title and land. This custom forced younger sons to find other ways to support themselves. Many of these younger sons went to universities and monasteries, where studying theology and preparing for religious jobs were important. Many of them did not want to become religious leaders, and often could not get such jobs even if they wanted them because too many people were trained in theology. Because there were so many educated people, some clerics chose to live a different life, focusing on enjoying life's pleasures rather than following strict religious rules.

Goliardic poetry

The goliards were scholars who often wrote poetry in Latin. As traveling entertainers, they created many poems meant to be sung. These poems, called lyrics, focus on two main themes: descriptions of the wild and lively lifestyle of wandering people and humorous and critical comments about society and the church.

To express their lively lifestyle, the goliards wrote about physical love, which was different from the romantic ideals of the troubadours. They composed drinking songs and celebrated joyful, carefree living. Their poems that criticized the church were inspired by their daily experiences, such as dishonest behavior in monasteries and increasing conflicts among religious leaders. Because of their rebellious writings against the church, the goliards were later denied the special rights of clergy. Their difficult relationship with the church, along with their wandering lifestyle, also led to many poems about the challenges of this way of life. One of the largest and most famous collections of goliardic poetry is the Carmina Burana, translated as "Songs from Beuern." It includes about 300 poems, mostly written in Latin; "few are in Old French, Provencal, and Middle German."

Satirical poets

The satires were created to mock and tease the church. For example, at St. Remy, the goliards walked in a group to church, each holding a herring on a string. They played a game where they tried to step on the herring in front of them while keeping their own herring safe from being stepped on. In some areas, the goliards held a celebration called the "Ass," where a donkey dressed in a silly costume was led to the front of the church. A cantor sang a praise song, and when he stopped, the audience would shout, "He Haw, Sire Ass, He haw!"

The University of Paris reported that priests and clerks wore masks and strange faces during church services. They danced in the choir dressed as women, men, or musicians. They sang songs that were not appropriate, ate food near the altar while Mass was being said, and played games like dice on the altar. They used smelly smoke from old shoes to make incense and ran around the church without showing shame. Later, they traveled through towns in poor carriages, performing shows that made people laugh but used rude gestures and words.

The goliards used religious texts, such as those from the Roman Catholic Mass and Latin hymns, in their poems, but changed them to make fun of the church (like in the "Drinkers Mass"). Their poems also included ideas from school philosophy, either to mock the church or because these ideas were common in their writing. Their satires mostly criticized the church, even mocking the pope.

Significance

The word "goliard" kept its meaning even after the original meaning changed. It was used in French and English literature in the 14th century, usually meaning jongleur or wandering minstrel, and no longer connected to church workers. It appears in Piers Plowman and was used by Chaucer.

Revisionist view

Some people believe that goliards wrote much of the satirical and worldly poetry from the 12th and early 13th centuries. However, recent research has questioned this idea. This research points out that most known goliardic poets were part of the church hierarchy and often worked as teachers in secular clergy. It also says these poets did not share common traits or have clear connections to the historical goliards. Instead, the research suggests that the cathedral schools in northern France were the main setting for this poetry. Therefore, it argues that "goliardic poets" and "goliards" should be considered separate groups. This view is different from the findings of well-established historical and language studies.

Modern day

In modern times, the Goliardia, which are similar to American student groups, say they are related to the Goliards. Even though this connection has not been proven, groups of students who call themselves Goliardia have been recorded in Italian history throughout the years. In modern Italian, the word Goliardata means a humorous trick or mischievous act.