Clémence Isaure distribuant des fleurs aux troubadourds par Félix SAURINES // Le musée du Vieux-Toulouse

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L’Académie des Jeux floraux (“Academy of the Floral Games”), or le collège de la gaie science (“College of the Happy Science”), is the most ancient literary institution of the western world. It was founded, according to the tradition, in 1323 by Clémence Isaure as the Consistori del Gay Saber with the goal of encouraging Occitan poetry. The best verses were given prizes at the floral games in the form of different flowers, made of gold or silver, such as violets, rose hips, calendula officinalis, amaranths or lilium. The Consistori eventually became gallicised. It was renewed by Louis XIV in 1694 and still exists today.