Juglar

Juglar is a term used to describe a medieval itinerant performer in Western Europe, especially in France and the Iberian Peninsula. The word, from Old French jongleur, refers to a class of entertainers who traveled from town to town, offering a repertoire that combined music, storytelling, and various acts. The role is related to, but distinct from, the troubadour or minstrel: juglares tended to be more itinerant and versatile in performance than the courtly composers and singers who served noble patrons.

Etymology and scope: The name derives from the French word jongler, meaning to juggle, reflecting the juggling and acrobatic elements often part of their shows. In practice, juglares could perform songs and narratives in vernacular languages, recite epic poetry, and accompany themselves on instruments such as the lute, vielle, psaltery, or hurdy-gurdy. They might also include juggling, mime, and other entertainments as part of a varied program.

Roles and venues: Juglares circulated through markets, fairs, taverns, squares, and the courtyards of towns or noble houses. They served as sources of news and stories, as well as entertainment, and their acts could be tailored to different audiences. Their livelihoods depended on alms, tips, or patronage, making them highly mobile and economically precarious.

Social context and legacy: Positioned between common mobility and specialized artistry, juglares occupied a lower social rung than some professional minstrels yet played a central role in medieval urban entertainment networks. Over time, the term waned as more formalized forms of poetry and music developed, but the concept influenced later traditions of traveling entertainers and remains a recognizable element of medieval culture in historical and literary contexts. In modern Romance languages, forms of the term persist to denote a minstrel or entertainer.