Chivalry, thought and religion

Abstract

Jean Froissart (1338-ca. 1410) has left us our most detailed account of the first half of the Hundred Years’ War. His work also offers rich insight into the character of late medieval chivalry. This historian of knightly virtues was, paradoxically, a bourgeois by birth. He was born at Valenciennes in Flanders, where his father was a painter. In 1361 he joined the court of Queen Philippa at Westminster in England. He traveled widely while in her service, visiting Scotland, Italy and France. At the queen’s urging, he began to collect his histories. He continued his historical work even after his patroness’ death (1369), eventually carrying his account up to 1400.