Clémence Isaure

Clémence Isaure is a quasi-legendary medieval figure credited with founding or restoring the Acadèmia dels Jòcs Florals or Academy of the Floral Games. She is supposed to have left a legacy to fund awards in the form of gold and silver flowers that the city would award annually to the best poets.

As the mythic founder of the games she is celebrated principally in Toulouse, where poems, sculptures, and paintings have been dedicated to her and a variety of places and institutions bear her name. In order to provide her with a realistic outline, she has been identified as a member of the Yzalguier family of Toulouse. In 1806 the rue des Yzalguier there was renamed the rue Clémence-Isaure. A tower at 7 de la rue Cujas was named the Tour Clémence Isaure. (It was demolished in 1817.)

For example, Charles Cros wrote in 1888:

Toulouse! ville antique où fleurissent encore
Pour les poètes, vos fleurs d’or, Clémence Isaure

Toulouse! ancient city where flourish still
For poets your golden flowers, Clémence Isaure

Jules Joseph Lefebvre (1836-1911), Clémence Isaure, oil on canvas, private collection Fred and Sherry Ross

Auguste Préault, Clémence Isaure. One of the Queens of France and Illustrious Women that stand in the Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris

Félix Saurines, Clémence Isaure distributing flowers to the troubadors, musée du Vieux Toulouse

Félicie de Fauveau, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins.

Bernard Griffoul-Dorval, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

Julie Charpentier, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

Léo Laporte-Blairsy, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

Jean-Pierre Rivalz, Clémence Isaure, Musée des Augustins

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