To celebrate a new research project on the poetry of the Crusades, the University of Warwick is running a poetry writing competition, particularly aimed at school children.

Headed up by Professor Linda Paterson of the University of Warwick, the new Anglo-Italian research project will open up the lyric poetry of the medieval troubadours and trouveres to its widest ever audience.

Professor Paterson said: “We are really excited about being able to share this poetry, much of which has been inaccessible to teachers and students for many years. The aim of the competition is to show just how relevant the poetry of the Crusades still is today and how important the poetry has become as a lasting record of these medieval military campaigns.”

Students are being asked to write a poem, in English (no need for Old French or Medieval Occitan!) of no more than 50 lines on the subject ‘Crusade’. Whilst they are welcome to use medieval troubadour songs for inspiration, they can treat the subject matter as they choose.

There are two categories for the competition: students up to and including age 15 and age 16 and over. Prizes of £50, £30 and £20 will be awarded to the three best entries in each of the two categories. The closing date for entries is 28 February 2015.

The original medieval poetry, some of it long lost to modern audiences, will be collated on the University of Warwick and University of Naples websites to provide a comprehensive archive of the troubadour and trouvere poetry, complete with translations and information on the historical context, manuscripts and earlier editions.

For more information on the competition go to: www.warwick.ac.uk/crusadelyrics/activities

To find out more about the research project and access the texts go to: www.warwick.ac.uk/crusadelyrics.

Notes to editors

For more information or to arrange an interview with someone from the competition team, please contact Kelly Parkes-Harrison, Senior Press and Communications Manager, k.e.parkes@warwick.ac.uk, 02476 150868, 07824 540863