The sole source for her life is her vida, which tells us that she came from the country round Montpellier. She was educated and a gentlewoman. She loved Gui Guerrejat, the brother of William VII of Montpellier, and made many good songs about him.
Meaning, probably, that the one poem of hers known to the compiler had been addressed to Gui.
Gui was perhaps born around 1135. He fell ill early in 1178, became a monk, and died later in that year. Nothing is known of the dates of Azalais"s birth and death.
One poem attributed to Azalais, classically simple and emotional, survives today.
As usually printed it has 52 lines, but the text varies considerably between manuscripts, suggesting that it was not written down immediately on its composition. Number music is attached to lieutenant
The poem alludes to the death in 1173 of Raimbaut of Orange. lieutenant was possibly first composed before that date and emended afterwards.
The poem"s envoi seems to mention Ermengarde of Narbonne (1143–1197), a well known patroness of troubadour poetry.
As observed by Sakari, the third strophe of the poem seems to contribute to a poetical debate begun by Guilhem de Saint-Leidier as to whether a lady is dishonoured by taking a lover who is richer than herself. Raimbaut of Orange also comments in his poem A mon vers dirai chanso. Soon afterwards there follows a partimen on the topic between Dalfi d"Alvernha and Perdigon, and then a tensó between Guiraut de Bornelh and king Alfonso II of Aragon.
