Matteo Maria Boiardo (born c. 1441, died 1494) was a 15th Century Italian poet, statesman, and favored member the Este court in Ferrara. He was Count of Scandiano and served as ducal captain (governor) of Modena and Reggio Emilia. In addition to his courtly duties Boiardo wrote songs, plays, and poetry. His most famous work is the epic, but unfinished poem Orlando Innamorato (Roland in Love).
Boiardo also wrote a poem about the card game of Trionfi (Triumphs). This card game, invented in the early-mid 15th century, is what most people today know as Tarot. Around the turn of the 16th century the Italian name changed to Tarocchi. This term is still used today and the poem is often referred to as Boiardo's Tarocchi.
I first became intrigued by this poem when I began to study tarot and its history. References on tarot history usually mention this poem because its numerical structure is what has survived in modern tarot (78 cards). They also tend to view it as an anomaly, because the suits and the trumps are very different, and because it is poetry. It is, however, an early written document about tarot.
The poem consists of two sonnets (14-line verses) and seventy eight tercets (3-line verses). These were to be put on cards and used in the game. The two sonnets (opening and closing) are descriptions of the cards and the game and not to be used in play. There are twenty one trumps plus a fool card (titled the World), four court cards for each suit, and four suits with ten cards each. The trump and court cards describe biblical, historical, and mythological figures. The suit cards begin with suit sign Love (Arrows), Hope (Vases), Jealousy (Eyes), and Fear (Whips). The suit cards rank (lowest to highest) 1-10 in Love and Hope, and (highest to lowest) 10-1 in Fear and Jealousy. Each tercet begins with the word (sign) of the suit and a word containing the number of the card.
When I began to search for more information about this poem I was unable to find much in English. I found a modern card deck in a limited edition by Tosi with the poem on the cards. I finally decided to start learning Italian and translate the poem myself. I also started searching out resourses on Boiardo and learn as much as I could about him and his poetry. (I will be adding a complete list of my references here soon.) This work has been difficult and rewarding. It is not yet complete and is really only a draft form right now, but I hope to improve it with time. I'd like to thank the members of the Boiardo group (Ross, Lother, Ray, and Mari) for their patience, encouragement, and help with this project.
