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Perdigon orPerdigo (fl. 1190–1220[2]) was atroubadour fromLespéron in theGévaudan.[3] Fourteen of his works survive, including threecansos with melodies.[4] He was respected and admired by contemporaries, judging by the widespread inclusion of his work inchansonniers and in citations by other troubadours.[4]
Though his biography is made confounding by contradicting statements in hisvida and allusions in his and others' poems, Perdigon's status as ajongleur from youth and an accomplished fiddler is well-attested in contemporary works (by him and others) and manuscript illustrations depicting him with his fiddle.[2] Perdigon travelled widely and was patronised byDalfi d'Alvernha, theHouse of Baux,[a]Peter II of Aragon, andBarral of Marseille.[2] His service to the latter provides an early definite date for his career, as Barral died in 1192 and Perdigon composed acanso—which survives with music—for him.[2]
According to hisvida, Perdigon was the son of a poor fisherman who excelled through his "wit and inventiveness" to honour and fame, was clothed and eventually armed, knighted, and granted land and rent by Dalfi d'Alvernha.[3] After this period of his life, which is said to have lasted a long time, the manuscripts of hisvida diverge. According to one version, death deprived him of his friends, male and female, and so he lost his position and entered aCistercian monastery, where he died.[3][4] That he entered a Cistercian monastery has never been proven, but has received some support from two of his works.[3]
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According to another version of hisvida, he became a strong opponent ofCatharism—a sect suppressed by the Catholic Church as heretical—and supported theAlbigensian Crusade against them.[4] He is said to have accompaniedGuillem des Baux,Folquet de Marselha, and theAbbot of Cîteaux toRome to opposeRaymond VI of Toulouse after the latter's excommunication in 1208. The author of thevida blames Perdigon for "[bringing] about and [arranging] all these deeds."[5] The biographer further claims that Perdigon sang to the populace to encourage the Crusade and even boasted of humiliatingPeter II of Aragon who opposed the Crusades and died at theBattle of Muret fighting against the Crusaders.[5] For this reason he became despised by those in favor of Catharism, and due to the war lost all his friends who fought in it:Simon de Montfort, Guillem des Baux,[b] and many others.[5] In the end, the son of Dalfi d'Alvernha, abandoned him, confiscated his land, and sent him away. The biographer claims that he went to Lambert de Monteil and begged to be entered into the Cistercian monastery of "Silvabela", but the author incorrectly believes Lambert to be the son-in-law of Guillem des Baux, and the monastery Silvabela ("beautiful forest") never existed.[5] Hisvidas are questionable.
Among Perdigon's surviving songs is atorneyamen withRaimbaut de Vaqueiras andAdemar de Peiteus.[6] Unusually for the period, Perdigon, along withAimeric de Peguilhan,through-composed his melodies.[7]
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