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orn in Genoa, a belief accepted by the twentieth-century Italian scholar Squillacioti, 55 but this
may reflect a desire to claim Folquet as an Italian. The wording of the vida makes it clear that
Folquet’s father, Anfos, was Italian by the Italian honorific “Sier”; Folquet, however, is referred
to universally with the Occitan honorific “En,” so his birthplace may be Marseille. Based on the
timing of events in his life, Folquet is believed to have been born between 1150 and 1160. 56
“And when the father died he left him rich in possessions.” 57 The vida does not indicate
Folquet’s profession directly, but because his father was a merchant and left him well off when
he died, it is likely that Folquet inherited the family business as well. The Monk of Montaudon
refers to Folquet as a “little merchant” in his satiric description of the important troubadours of
his time. 58 A Fulco Anfos is listed among the bourgeois of Marseille in a cartulary of 1178. 59 In
addition, Folquet refers to himself as “rich” in several songs.
“And he strove for merit and put himself to serve worthy men. And to frequent with them
and to come to them. And he was well received by King Richard and by count Raimon of
Toulouse and by Lord Barral his lord of Marseille.” 60 These lines suggest that Folquet
succeeded in rising socially through his activities as a troubadour. He discusses the behavior of
55 Squillacioti, Folchetto di Marsiglia, 68-70. There is also an Italian translation of the
Old Occitan vida that indicates that Folquet was born in Genoa.
56 Schulman, “Folco,” 224; Squillacioti, Folchetto di Marsiglia, 67.
57 “e can lo paire mori el lo laysset ric d’aver.”
58 “Pois Peire d’Alvergn’a chantat,” 74; Philippson, Mönch von Montaudon, 34.
59 Schulman, “Folco,” 42
60 “E el entendet en pretz e mes se a servir valens homes. E trevar ab lor. e venir. E son
fort grazir per lo rey Richart. E per lo comt. .R. de toloza. E per en Barral son senhor de
Marsselha.”
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