Geoffrey Chaucer (Middle age)
English poet and writer
Born: London, United Kingdom
Died: October 25, 1400, London, United Kingdom
Spouse: Philippa Roet (m. 1366--1387)
Education: Inner Temple
Influenced by: Dante Alighieri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Ovid, Anicius Manlius T S Boethius
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1343 -- October 25, 1400) was an influential English poet, author, and civil servant, widely regarded as the "father of English literature" due to his role in popularizing the use of Middle English in literature. His most famous work is The Canterbury Tales. Besides being a poet, Chaucer served as a bureaucrat, courtier, diplomat, and member of parliament. He also wrote A Treatise on the Astrolabe for his son, showcasing his interests in philosophy and astronomy. Chaucer was the first poet to be buried in Poets' Corner at Westminster Abbey. His other notable works include The Book of the Duchess, The House of Fame, The Legend of Good Women, and Troilus and Criseyde.
Geoffrey Chaucer was most likely born in London in the early 1340s, with some sources, including his monument, suggesting 1343 as the year of his birth, though the exact date and location are not definitively known. The Chaucer family is a remarkable example of upward social mobility. His great-grandfather was a tavern owner, his grandfather served as a wine supplier, and his father, John Chaucer, became a prominent wine merchant with a royal commission. Several generations of the Chaucer family were involved in the wine trade and other forms of commerce in Ipswich. The surname Chaucer is derived from the French term "chaucier," which was initially thought to mean 'shoemaker' but is now understood to refer to a maker of hose or leggings.
In 1324, John Chaucer, Geoffrey's father, was abducted by an aunt who intended to marry him off to her daughter to secure family property in Ipswich. This plan led to the aunt being jailed and fined 250, which would be approximately 200,000 in today's currency, indicating the family's financial stability.
John Chaucer later married Agnes Copton, who in 1349 inherited various properties, including 24 shops in London, from her uncle Hamo de Copton. Hamo is mentioned in a will dated April 3, 1354, and recorded in the City Hustings Roll as a "moneyer," suggesting he worked as a moneyer at the Tower of London. In the City Hustings Roll 110, 5, Ric II, dated June 1380, Geoffrey Chaucer identifies himself as "me Galfridum Chaucer, filium Johannis Chaucer, Vinetarii, Londonie," which translates to: "I, Geoffrey Chaucer, son of John Chaucer, vintner, of London."
Career
Chaucer's life as a public servant is well-documented, especially when compared to his contemporaries, William Langland and the Gawain Poet, about whom little is known. Nearly five hundred records exist that detail Chaucer's career. The earliest of these "Chaucer Life Records" dates back to 1357, found in the household accounts of Elizabeth de Burgh, the Countess of Ulster. Chaucer became a page in the countess's household, a position he secured through his father's connections. Serving as a page was a common medieval apprenticeship that could lead to knighthood or prestigious positions. The countess was married to Lionel of Antwerp, the 1st Duke of Clarence and the second surviving son of King Edward III. This role brought Chaucer into the inner circle of the royal court, a connection that he maintained for the rest of his life.
Chaucer's career included various roles such as courtier, diplomat, and civil servant. Notably, from 1389 to 1391, he served as Clerk of the King's Works, overseeing royal building projects. In 1359, during the early stages of the Hundred Years' War, Chaucer accompanied Lionel of Antwerp, Elizabeth's husband, as part of the English army that invaded France under King Edward III. In 1360, during the siege of Rheims, Chaucer was captured. King Edward paid 16 for Chaucer's ransom, a significant amount that would be equivalent to approximately 14,557 in 2023. After the ransom was paid, Chaucer was released.
Literary works
Chaucer's first major work was The Book of the Duchess, an elegy for Blanche of Lancaster, who passed away in 1368. Two other early works from Chaucer include Anelida and Arcite and The House of Fame. Chaucer composed many of his significant works during a prolific period while he served as customs comptroller for London, from 1374 to 1386. Works such as Parlement of Foules, The Legend of Good Women, and Troilus and Criseyde were all written during this time. It is believed that he began writing The Canterbury Tales in the 1380s.
In addition to his original works, Chaucer translated Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy and The Romance of the Rose by Guillaume de Lorris (later extended by Jean de Meun). The poet Eustache Deschamps referred to himself as a "nettle in Chaucer's garden of poetry." In 1385, Thomas Usk praised Chaucer highly, and John Gower also commended him.
