What was a minstrel from northern France called?

The correct term for a minstrel from northern France is "trouvere." Trouveres were poet-musicians who flourished in the medieval period, particularly in the 12th and 13th centuries. They composed and performed songs in Old French, often exploring themes of courtly love, chivalry, and social commentary. This distinction is important as it highlights the cultural and regional variations within medieval music and poetry, with trouveres specifically representing the northern French tradition.

In contrast, troubadours, who were active in the south of France, shared similarities but were distinct in their language (Occitan) and regional influences. Goliards, while also engaging in poetry and song, were typically wandering scholars and clerics from the 12th century who often focused on themes like satire, love, and social issues, rather than the structured courtly love narratives associated with the trouveres. Thus, identifying trobar as the term for the northern French minstrel clearly delineates the cultural and historical context in which these musicians operated.