Courtly love, the poetic and often illicit affection glorified by troubadours, captivated noble courts across Europe. It painted a world in which a knight might love a lady with devotion, even if she was married to another. This concept was less about consummation and more about idealized passion—a yearning tied to honor and personal virtue.
But love wasn't confined to castles. For peasants and townspeople, romance was more practical but no less intense. Folk songs, festivals, and charms reflect a deeply human desire for affection and companionship. Some even turned to “love magic,” using potions, prayers, or amulets to win a beloved’s heart.
Tokens, Talismans, and Treasures of Love
Love in the Middle Ages left a physical trail. Archaeologists have unearthed intricately carved rings, heart-shaped brooches, inscribed lockets, and even padlocks engraved with lovers’ initials. These items, often buried with their owners or hidden away like sacred relics, reflect the emotional richness of medieval lives.
One of the most evocative finds was a small gold brooch discovered near a ruined chapel, inscribed in Old French: "Amour me tient" – "Love holds me." This simple object, once pinned close to the heart, speaks across centuries of a love that once mattered enough to be immortalized in metal.
Other discoveries include “posy rings,” engraved with poetic lines, and pendants shaped like clasped hands—a medieval symbol of fidelity. Some believe these items also served as engagement tokens or secret pledges between forbidden lovers. shutdown123