"Chronicles" by Froissart

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Jean Froissart's "Chronicles" represents the growth of a new approach to historical writing during the fourteenth century that was more factual, with less of a moral objective, and written by lay people for a similar audience. The paper outlines how Froissart described several developments in society and the new nature of warfare that became evident during his century.

From the Paper:

"The author of the Chronicles, Jean Froissart, spent the majority of his career as a courtier, though he was enrolled among the ranks of the clergy. At a young age, he became the private secretary to Philippa of Hainault, the wife of King Edward III of England. In this capacity, he journeyed extensively throughout Europe, and was perhaps one of the most widely traveled observers of his day.
"His work was part of an important shift that occurred during the fourteenth century. Historical accounts of the early Middle Ages had been predominately composed by members of the clergy. As a result, these early histories were written in Latin and were distinctively moral in objective. Beginning in the thirteenth century, historical accounts were increasingly recorded by lay people. Largely urban and middle class, these historians approached their task from a different, more factual, perspective and wrote their works in vernacular for the consumption of other educated lay people."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Froissart, Jean. Chronicles. Translated by Geoffrey Brereton. London: Penguin Books, Ltd., 1978.

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