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Jean Froissart

Froissart's Chronicles

A poet in the tradition of Guillaume de Machaut, Jean Froissart (circa 1337-circa 1404) is best remembered as a historian and as the author of the Chronicle, a document that is essential to an understanding of Europe in the fourteenth century and to the twists and turns taken by the Hundred Years' War. Froissart's constant travels took him to the four corners of Europe and placed him in direct contact with a variety of courtly circles, all very well versed in the political affairs of the day. Froissart made liberal use in his work of their conversations : invited to the English court in 1361 by Queen Philippa of Hainaut, consort of Edward III, he frequented England's highest military officers as well as French noblemen held captive in London after the defeat at Poitiers. Upon the death of his patroness in 1369, Froissart returned to the continent and entered the service first of Robert de Namur, count of Hainaut, then of Wenceslaus of Luxemburg, duke of Brabant, and finally of Guy de Châtillon, count of Blois, who appointed Froissart his chaplain. His extensive travels took Froissart as far as the county of Foix, where he was graciously received by Gaston Phoebus.

Froissart composed his Chronicle in four books between 1370 and 1400 and revised it constantly. The work enjoyed great success during the author's lifetime and its popularity endured long after his death. The text, preserved in more than 100 manuscripts, is written in a vigorous, lively style (especially book III), that stirred the imagination of the many miniaturists who illustrated the Chronicle. One of the most lavishly illuminated copies of Froissart's history was commissioned by an important Flemish nobleman, Louis of Gruthuse, around 1470-1480. The four volumes of this copy (BNF, Fr 2643 ; BNF, Fr 2644 ; BNF, Fr 2645 ; BNF, Fr 2646 ) contain 112 miniatures painted by the best Brugeois artists of the day, among them Loiset Lyédet, a renowned painter to whom the miniatures in the first two volumes are attributed. All these colorful scenes bring the dramatic or festive events narrated by Jean Froissart vividly to life.