Geoffrey Chauser

c. 1312-1313

Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer's father, John Chaucer. 1313

Birth of Giovanni Boccaccio, Italian poet.

1321

Death of Dante Alighieri, Italian Poet, soon after the completion of the Divina Commedia.

1327

Accession of Edward III, aged 14.

1340

Boccaccio writes Filocolo.

c. 1340-1345

Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer.

Chaucer: 1340-1400: The Life and Times of the First English Poet

by Richard West Buy the Book Today!

Daily Life in Chaucer's England

by Jeffrey L. Singman and Will McLean Buy the Book Today!

1337-1453

The Hundred Years' War between England and France.

The English had held land in France for a long time, but lost Normandy in 1204. In 1337 Edward III declared himself king of France based on his mother's lineage. His ambition was the recovery of territories England used to held in France. His declaration was the onset of a long period of wars.

1338

Completion of Giovanni Boccaccio's Il Filostrato.

1340

Birth of Eustache Deschamps, French poet.

1341

Boccaccio's finishes Teseide delle Nozze d'Emilia.

1346

English victory at the battle of Crecy.

1348-1349

The Black Death wipes out one third of the population of England.

Early 1350s

Revival of alliterative poetry in the West and North-West of England.

1356

English victory at the battle of Poitiers. King John of France is captured and lives at the English court from 1357 until 1360.

1357

Chaucer became page in the household of Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. (She is the wife of Lionel, Earl of Ulster, second son of Edward III.)

The earliest known document in which Geoffrey Chaucer is named is a household account book kept for the Countess (June 1356 - April 1359). The account book mentions purchases for Geoffrey Chaucer in April 1357: a short jacket, a pair of red and black hose (stockings) and a pair of shoes.

1359

In September 1359 King Edward and his sons were invading France with a large expeditionary force. Prince Lionel went into the king's army and Chaucer served in the retinue of Lionel in the war in France.

The Riverside Chaucer

Larry D. Benson

(General editor)

The Riverside Chaucer contains all the works of Geoffrey Chaucer in middle-english. As it is the most authentic and exciting edition available of Chaucer's complete works, it is recommended both to scholars and students.

More information

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1360

Chaucer is captured by the French at the siege of Reims. In March 1360, he is ransomed for 16 pounds.

In October 1360 peace negotiations were arranged at Calais. Prince Lionel paid Chaucer for carrying letters from Calais to England. These diplomatic errands and messenger services were the first of many journeys. 1360

Treaty of Bretigny which provides peace between England and France until 1369.

Geoffrey Chaucer The Canterbury Tales (Penguin Classics)

translated into modern English by Nevill Coghill

Nevill Coghill's modern-english translation of The Canterbury Tales is recommended to readers who wish to read the tales without being forced to look up middle-English words. Buy the Book Today!

1361-1367

Jean Froissart, the French chronicler and poet attends in the household of Queen Philippa, wife of Edward III.

1364

Death of King John of France.

Accession of Charles V

1365-1366

Chaucer marries Philippa Roet who serves in the Queen's household. Philippa is the eldest daughter of the Flemish knight Sir Paon de Roet, and sister of Katherine Swynford.

1366

Death of Chaucer's father. His mother remarries shortly. 1364-1366

William Langland begins the writing of Piers Plowman (the 'A'-text).

1366

Chaucer travels to Spain.

1367

Chaucer entered service as an esquire in the household of Edward III. Chaucer is first recorded as a member of the royal household on 20 June 1367 when he was granted a royal annuity for life of 20 pounds.

Birth of Chaucer's son, Thomas. 1367

Richard of Bordeaux, later Richard II, is born in January. He is the second and only surviving son of Edward, the Black Prince (eldest son of Edward III).

The Black Prince supports Pedro of Castile in the battle of Najera.

The King addresses Parliament for the the first time in English.

c. 1367-1370

Chaucer translates parts of Romaunt of the Rose. He also writes poetry in French.

1368

Chaucer writes the Book of the Duchess about the death of Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster. 1368

Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster,