ROMANS, Bieiris de

Na Bieiris de Romans (English: Lady Beatrice of Romans; fl. c. 13th century) was a trobairitz of the first half of the thirteenth century. She was likely from Romans near Montélimar. Other than her name, which includes her place of birth, nothing is known of the details of her life, which has led to a significant gap in knowledge for scholarship analyzing her work. She left behind one canso, "Na Maria, pretz e fina valors" ("Lady Maria, in your merit and distinction"), addressed to another woman named Mary. The poem is written in the typical troubadour style of courtly love, has been the source of scholarly debate, with some interpreting it as an expression of lesbian desire, while others speculate that author could have been a mis-identified man, a woman writing as a man, or expressing platonic or spiritual devotion.