Cortigiana Onesta / Cortigiana Di Lume - Italy - The Renaissance
The setting now is Venice, during the renaissance.
Courtesans in renaissance Italy were something to be in awe of. They came in two flavors, though one could fall or rise at the whims of her clients.
The Cortigiana Onesta, or “Honest Courtesanâ€, were some of the most educated women of their time. They contributed to the arts of the time with song, dance, painting, and poetry. They were even given the same respect as noble women.
Wit, charm, and humor brought light to these gems. Chosen from what was considered ‘good breeding’, the Onesta were dressed to the nines and then tens elevens and twelves. Dripping in laces, silks, and jewels, they were not only expected to be sexual partners but also companions. If a woman did not know how to converse with her client on topics ranging from political intrigue to the most popular arts of the time, she was no Onesta.
It was these women who are romanticized so, their grace and beauty so vivid and awe inspiring that they could not only entertain local nobility, but also foreign kings. The Cortigiana Di Lume, however, were not quite as highly revered.
Considered better than common prostitutes, Di Lume women weren't given the same respect and privilege as the Onesta. She could not be found at the fabulous parties of debauchery and avarice, but along side the rialto bridge, hoping to catch someone’s eye.
Often of lower class families, or the wife of an ambitious man, Di Lume women were not quite as refined and sought after as her Onesta sister.
Veronica Franco was a famous courtesan of Venice, charming almost anyone who was blessed enough to meet her. A gifted poet, Veronica wrote and published books of her poetry thanks to the help of her clients and their influence.
When King Henry III visited the city of romance, he was charmed by Veronica and it is said that they had a brief liaison- which only made her more popular and sought after.
Of course, in 1575, a plague struck the city. In the panic that gripped the people of Venice, Veronica fled the city in fear that she too might succumb. Her belongings left behind in a dying city, her private apartments were looted. This was not the worst of it for her, however.
The Inquisition making its way over, what with disasters like the plague often considered matters of the Christian god, they attempted to try Veronica Franco with witchcraft.
She defended herself with dignity and strength, rebuking all claims made against her by those she once entertained, and was one of the very lucky few to have the charges dropped.
So, how can we apply the above into roleplay?
This is delving into the courtesan world in which noble and married women could partake in.
The Cortigiana was dressed in the best, and so it's probably not very hard to play on this- specifically, characters that are members of the Weaver's and Goldsmith's guilds in Ul'dah (Yellow Moon, anyone?).
Playing up on fashion and extravagance is perfect if wanting to play an Onesta-type character, someone who is ahead of the game when it comes to the latest duds and bangles.
An Example: Mimiji Miji is a young Lalafel noble in Ul'dah. Sadly, Mimiji's parents didn't do very good bookkeeping, and thus she is faced with either an unhappy arranged marriage or work.
She decided on the later, climbing the social ladder as a courtesan hired more for her political and financial know-how.
Now a well established courtesan, and a sound bank account once more, Mimiji decides to take on a lower class courtesan as a student- no longer needing the work, but wanting to keep in contact with her many suitors.
Perhaps she'll go down to Pearl Lane (with her body guards, of course) and see if there is anyone she sees potential in.
Up next: The age of the Career Mistress
