jocs florals

poetry

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The jocs florals, or "floral games," were poetry competitions established in Barcelona in 1393 by King John I of Aragon. These events, inspired by troubadour traditions, awarded prizes named after flowers and aimed to preserve the Catalan language and poetic style. This initiative fostered a flourishing period for Catalan poetry in the 15th century, with Valencia emerging as a significant literary center. Notable poets like Ausiàs March produced influential works, contributing to a distinct Catalan literary identity before a subsequent decline in the language's prominence.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Spanish literature
Poetry
…the academy in Toulouse with jocs florals (“floral games,” or poetry congresses), including literary competitions. This royal encouragement continued under Martin I and Ferdinand I and helped to emancipate the literary style from foreign influences. As the century advanced, Valencia emerged as a new focus of literary activity: a school…
Read More
…the academy in Toulouse with jocs florals (“floral games,” or poetry congresses), including literary competitions. This royal encouragement continued under Martin I and Ferdinand I and helped to emancipate the literary style from foreign influences. As the century advanced, Valencia emerged as a new focus of literary activity: a school…
Read More