The roads to troubadour heritage in Catalan culture: Arnaut Daniel and Dante Alighieri

The well-established influence of Dante and that of the troubadours on Catalan culture has given rise to an impressive body of scholarship. However, given the vast scope of both subjects and the complexity of their interaction, some aspects are yet to be analysed or reassessed. This article focuses on a case study, Arnaut Daniel’s circulation and reception in Catalonia, from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, in order to explore how both cultural strands are intertwined and the challenges of researching troubadour reception in Catalan culture. By tracing Arnaut’s reception, both the importance of Dante’s authority and the fluctuating nature of Arnaut’s fame become apparent. Additionally, early research is shown to have taken place in an ideologically charged moment, a cultural context that must be taken into account to fully understand some choices and results that still exert influence today.