What is a Courtesan?
The History…
A courtesan was originally a woman courtier, a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful man. In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together. In Renaissance Europe, courtiers played an extremely important role in upper-class society. As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives — commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances — men and women would often seek gratification and companionship from people living at court. In fact, the verb “to court” originally meant “to be or reside at court”, and later came to mean “to behave as a courtier” and then “to pay amorous attention to somebody”. The most intimate companion of a ruler was called the favourite.
As a result, in Renaissance usage, the Italian word “cortigiana”, feminine of “cortigiano” (courtier) came to refer to “the ruler’s Mistress”, and then to a well-educated and independent woman of free morals, eventually a trained artisan of dance and singing, especially one associated with wealthy, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for companionship. The word was borrowed by English from Italian through the French form “courtisane” during the 16th century, especially associated to the meaning of “court-mistress” and “prostitute”.
A male figure comparable to the courtesan was the Italian cisisbeo, the French chevalier servant, the Spanish cortejo or estrecho. It actually seems that the figure of the chevalier servant (French, lit. serving cavalier, lady’s escort) of a married lady was quite common in Europe up to the 18th century.
Courtesans have been seen throughout history and cultures. You will see evidence of Courtesans in Japanese, Italian, French, Indian and English society.
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My View
Today we may apply the term ‘Courtesan’ to a Lady of Pleasure who choses her companions carefully.
The Courtesan of the 21st century is not at court. But she is still the mistress of her own destiny. Like her sisters of centuries gone by, she enjoys the luxury of her independence and fortune.
She is a lady who is well educated, witty, sophisticated, well-travelled, well groomed, articulate, well spoken, well dressed, cultured, charming, graceful and elegant. The perfect person to have on the very successful business man’s arm. She is usually mature (over 30) having the gift of experience of life and sophistication. She is the antithesis of what you expect a ‘lady of the night’ to look like. She is high class, very high class. And very high maintenance.
Gentlemen who are naturally attracted to Courtesans are looking for an ‘experience’ certainly not a quick gratification. They seek an encounter which includes intelligent conversation with a skilled, confident woman who is happy to share her joys and pleasures with the discerning patron.
The true Courtesan is rare. She is not for everyone. Some gentlemen may not feel comfortable with her. It is up to that gentleman to embrace the wonders of the internet and research the lady he wishes to pursue. It is folly to try to arrange a meeting with a lady where the gentleman has no connection, just because he wants to meet a high class Courtesan. It is important to establish a little rapport even before meeting.
A Courtesan is unlike any other ‘Lady of Pleasure’.She is not available to anyone with the requisite cash. No, the Courtesan is choosey with her suitors. She can afford to be. The Courtesans of our age do not need to work in this profession. Many have high powered careers where discretion on your part is just as important as on her part. A Courtesan never, ever kisses and tells.
When you seek a Courtesan, you will be looking for someone you will feel comfortable with and someone who will provide for you the experience you desire. A beautiful fact of life is that for every gentleman looking for a particular ‘Lady of Pleasure’ – there is one. You just have to look. Take a look. The internet is magnificent for this. Use it well, it tells a story.
Gentlemen, I invite you to celebrate these very special ladies – ‘The Ladies of Pleasure’. Treat them wonderfully, always, each and every one of them, and you will be more than compensated in return. More details of my luxury Courtesan Experience are to be found throughout my website.
If you feel that I am the lady, the Courtesan that you seek for your special experience, then I am more than honoured by that and invite you to email me at your convenience with details to rhiacharles@yahoo.co.uk
PS People searching for ‘Courtesan’ sometimes use Cortesan, Courtisan, Cortisan or Courtisans. It just goes to show that the modern usage of the word Courtesan is not wide-spread. Either that or gentlemen get so excited when they input it in a search engine they make a typing error.
