Chronicles

by Jean Froissart, Geoffrey Brereton

One of the greatest contemporary records of fourteenth-century England and France

Depicting the great age of Anglo-French rivalry from the deposition of Edward II to the downfall of Richard II, Froissart powerfully portrays the deeds of knights in battle at Sluys, Crecy, Calais and Poitiers during the Hundred Years War. Yet they are only part of this vigorous portrait of medieval life, which also vividly describes the Peasants' Revolt, trading activities and diplomacy against a backdrop of degenerate nobility. Written with the same sense of curiosity about character and customs that underlies the works of Froissart's contemporary, Chaucer, the Chronicles are a magnificent evocation of the age of chivalry.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Genres: History, Classics, Medieval, Nonfiction, France, Medieval History, French Literature

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1400

About the author

Jean Froissart was one of the most important of the chroniclers of medieval France. For centuries, Froissart's Chronicles have been recognized as the chief expression of the chivalric revival of the 14th century Kingdom of England and France. His history is also one of the most important sources for the first half of the Hundred Years' War.

Reviews

[Jan-Maat]

After many years of looking at this on my bookshelves I finally cracked its spine and read it through.

The downside of this volume is that it is a selection from Froissart's chronicles rather than a complete narrative. So it is more of a chocolate box than a meal, and I suspected that the flitting from incident to incident left me less engaged than reading something which was shorter in scope but more continuous. On the other hand the variety of material is interesting, from the royal courts of France and England to the bear hunting (and son murdering) Count of Foix As Froissart tells the story it was the most natural thing in the world. The Count of Foix, understandably enough, had imprisoned his son in a tower. One day when taking him his dinner, he stabbed him in the neck with his short bladed pocket knife. It's the kind of everyday accident that could happen to anybody apparently., the grand entrance of Isabelle of Bavaria to Paris, the abandoned camp of the Scots in 1327 with its leather cauldrons and thousands of worn out shoes to the accounts of the Irish living beyond the Pale and tales of coups, plotting and arrests of secret messengers and spies.

What I enjoyed about Froissart were the occasional details, the boats brought by the English on campaign in France and Edward III in his fine hat on the deck of his ship calling for the minstrels to play while he awaited the arrival of the Castilian fleet. As a historian it's not so much Froissart's obvious prejudices (such as against rebellious peasants) that are the problem so much as his judgement which seems odd at times, for example when Etienne Marcel gets the blame for the disorder in Paris but the King of Navarre who really seems duplicitous doesn't, although possibly this may have been affected by not wishing to offend actual and potential patrons.

As with Classical historians you are likely to be reading what Froissart thought was what Kings and their advisers should have said as much as anything they did say. Did Edward III really grind his teeth when one of his knights advised him to spare the burghers of Calais? It makes for an appropriate story, particularly when he relents after the Queen also asks him to be merciful.

Good I think for late medieval colour, whether that be tournaments or the entertainments at wedding feasts, recommended to anybody reading a history of the Hundred Years War for a flavour of contemporary attitudes.

[Adam McPhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you expect from seeing it cited so often in history books (ie The Hundred Years War from Crecy through to all that boring English stuff involving Richard II/Henry IV), but so much more than that too. Funny how he gets a new patron in book three or four and switches from history writing to ghost stories.

A twitter thread of interesting bits, here.

[Markus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I also read the French version of this Unique work of detailed historical value. Another 'must read'.

[allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

all froissart does is eat hot chip and hype up the aristocracy

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though known for its depiction of medieval warfare and the political context of the 100 Years War, Froissart's Chronicles offers a wealth of incidental period detail as well. As a Flemish fellow who spent lots of time in England and all over continental Europe in the 13th century, Froissart was in a good position to observe the manners of varying people in a number of courts, attitudes toward class and gender difference, toward religion and the complexity of medieval politics. He was an outsider to some extent nearly everywhere he went, which gave him an interesting vantage point. He also seems to have been an inquisitive guy and one pictures him floating around a royal banquet (quill in hand?) flattering the egos of the high and mighty so they would tell him all their best stories. His work, though he perhaps did not intend it for this purpose, on several occasions also demonstrates the entrenched bigotry of the English toward the Irish and the aristocracy toward the poor. It is not comforting that racism and classism endure so heartily, though the Chronicles give us a hint whence our own troubles in part derive. The overall, again unintended, impression I was left with is what a pox on society is an upper class whose wealth relies on the constant waging of war and the equally constant growth of their wealth. Although, it might be argued, at least medieval lords had some theoretical duty to protect the poor when they were not exploiting them. All in all, an interesting piece of work and Geoffrey Brereton's translation is remarkably readable.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read a book about the Hundred Years War and assorted goings on in Europe in the 14th century written by a man who knew a number of the participants in various events.

Well worth a read.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a riot. It was history, but everything was very King Arthur, Knights of the Round table, romantic love and being noble and honorable. And there was that bit about the blind guy who went to battle and got killed of course. He was real noble, but he was also real dead.

[Marcos Augusto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chronicles open with the events leading up to the deposition of Edward II in 1326, and cover the period up to 1400, recounting events in western Europe, mainly in England, France, Scotland, the Low Countries and the Iberian Peninsula, although at times also mentioning other countries and regions such as Italy, Germany, Ireland, the Balkans, Cyprus, Turkey and North Africa.

For centuries the Chronicles have been recognized as the chief expression of the chivalric culture of 14th-century England and France. Froissart's work is perceived as being of vital importance to informed understandings of the European 14th century, particularly of the Hundred Years' War. But modern historians also recognize that the Chronicles have many shortcomings as a historical source: they contain erroneous dates, have misplaced geography, give inaccurate estimations of sizes of armies and casualties of war, and may be biased in favour of the author's patrons.

Although Froissart is sometimes repetitive or covers seemingly insignificant subjects, his battle descriptions are lively and engaging. For the earlier periods Froissart based his work on other existing chronicles, but his own experiences, combined with those of interviewed witnesses, supply much of the detail of the later books. Although Froissart may never have been in a battle, he visited Sluys in 1386 to see the preparations for an invasion of England. He was present at other significant events such as the baptism of Richard II in Bordeaux in 1367, the coronation of King Charles V of France in Rheims in 1364, the marriage of Duke John of Berry and Jeanne of Boulogne in Riom and the joyous entry of the French queen Isabeau of Bavaria in Paris, both in 1389.

It is true that Froissart often omits to talk about the common people, but that is largely the consequence of his stated aim to write not a general chronicle but a history of the chivalric exploits that took place during the wars between France and England. Nevertheless, Froissart was not indifferent to the wars' effects on the rest of society. His Book II focuses extensively on popular revolts in different parts of western Europe (France, England and Flanders) and in this part of the Chronicles the author often demonstrates good understanding of the factors that influenced local economies and their effect on society at large; he also seems to have a lot of sympathy in particular for the plight of the poorer strata of the urban populations of Flanders.

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the background color, lively anecdotes, and chivalrous tone more than the military maneuvers.

[Zeke Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good writer from the middle ages that covered the peasant rebellions, the treatment of women, war crimes, and other things. Like today's media, Froissart was paid by the ruling class of his time (the feudal aristocracy), so his writing reflects their viewpoint. But as long as you understand that there are many facts and insights to be read between the lines.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic and unusual tortures, majestic in their wrought iron plunderings heaped in pains. Blood becomes granular in its ease of enforcement alongside the towering fascinations of sable and uncounted pure gold. Each gruesome death surprises, detailed in full colour regalia and wallowed filth.

Froissart, journalist of chivalry/violence/power of the Hundred Years’ War, confronts warfare in its unrestrained brutality against the rose-bound thorns and horse sweat of all that bespoke the Arthurian romance. He thrust his lance into me from the side; now I call it Longinus. The rendering, or chronicling, of non-linguistic hurt usually reveals the clutching sway of the seat of absolute power in its symbolic architecture. However, here in the 14th century, the violence in this text is not yet separate from linguistic systems, and therefore is not yet hidden behind them.

Moral ambiguity informs the institution of the knights, encoded in their practice of chivalry. It’s all court culture with hollow pomp, idealised chivalry, and unconstrained, retributive medieval violence, where kings are known sodomites and Hugh Despenser will be dispensed with. The ritualised aplomb of the tender blade of destruction bears its brunt in a pageantry of atrocities. The whole bloody mess before Joan of Arc could sort it.

[Magpie6493 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a surprisingly fun time reading this. I'd highly recommend however already having base level knowledge of this period as there are quite a few inaccuracies when it comes to what we in the modern day now know for certain about this period.

Also as a fair warning this edition for some reason or another appears to be an abridged version so how much is missing compared to the original or if an an unabridged version is somehow available in print outside of an archive I have utterly no idea.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

One must remember that this book was written for aristocrats to read way back in the day. chivalry was a big deal back then, but it was on the decline due to changes in warfare. it's a fun book to read.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as a part of a medieval history course at university, as it is an excellent account of the time. If you have an interest in that era, or in the history of warfare I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

[Paul H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating historical period, a fascinating author ... unfortunately an incredibly dry book, sort of like the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle but somehow even less interesting.

[Micha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Froissart is obsessively preoccupied with chivalry and heraldry. In his chronicles, he gives a highly idealized account of war and love in 14th-century England and France. While there’s some truth to his descriptions of battles and other historical events (he sought out and interviewed eyewitnesses), there’s plenty of exaggeration. But this need not distract from “Froissart’s Chronicles,” as long as they’re not read too literally. I felt like they gave me a unique insight into the values and ideals of Froissart and, by extension, aristocrats living in the 14th-century.

What I enjoyed most about “Froissart’s Chronicles” were the many amusing anecdotes, which probably didn’t seem amusing back in Froissart’s day. At the Battle of Crécy, for example, the following happens:

“Those that were in front halted; those at the rear did not, but still pressed forward, saying that they would not halt until they were as far forward as the front, and those in front of them were pushed forward in their turn. This disorder was entirely caused by pride, every man wishing to surpass his neighbor, in spite of the marshal’s words.”

When the Scottish decisively defeated the English at the Battle of Otterburn, they took more prisoners than they knew what to do with. The English who were released promised to return and acknowledge their capture. “The Scots were most considerate and accommodating in the matter of ransoms, as I learned from a knight who had been captured by the Earl of March, and who was full of praise for the earl for allowing him to settle his ransom at his own convenience.”

On the day before the Battle of Poitiers, two knights rode past each other and realized that they were wearing the same badges. “‘Chandos, since when have you taken the liberty of wearing my badge?’ ‘It is you who have taken mine,’ replied Sir John Chandos; ‘It is as much mine as it is yours.’ ‘I deny it,’ came the answer. ‘And were it not for the truce between us, I would soon show you that you have no right to wear it.’ ‘Ha!’ replied Chandos. ‘Tomorrow you will find me in the field, ready to defend and prove by force of arms that it is as much mine as yours.’”

I read the Faber Finds edition of “Froissart’s Chronicles,” edited and translated by John Jolliffe. I thought his translation was excellent. The abridgments that he decided to make really helped move the narrative along (“Froissart’s Chronicles” were never intended to appear as a coherent whole and contain many inconsistencies and repetitions). So, I would recommend the Faber edition to anyone interested in reading Froissart’s fascinating account of chivalrous deeds in the 14th-century.

[Pedro Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Froissart's Chronicles are essential reading for anyone wishing to get stuck into a juicy primary source for the Middle Ages. His descriptions of war, battle, jousts, and the sheer pomp and pagentry of the High Middle Ages have survived the test of time, and perhaps defined a time. His description of kings and queens are down to earth, personable, warts and all, and he tries hard not to pick sides when describing many of the important events of the Hundred Years War between France and England, despite his obvious leanings.
As noted in the introduction, the first book is pretty much plagarised from another source, but does cover the start of the Hundred Years War. It is in the following 3 books that we get to hear Froissart's unique voice across the centuries. His obvious displeasure of us uppity peasants,as evinced by his description of the Peasant's Revolt, while unfathomable by todays standards, does give us a window in how the aristocracy viewed us commom folk at the time, and likely even today.
Amid the epic events sweeping around him at the time, it was some of the quieter moments he told that stuck just as well. The Tale of the Familiar in Book Three is almost high comedy, and The Haunting of Sir Peter offers a glimpse of the magical Middle Ages, a Middle Ages perhaps more familiar to our modern times and prejudices, in a chronicle firmly grounded in tales of people and events.
Book Four ends with the downfall of Richard II, with Froissart back in England, busily scribbling down stories and observing events. In the end, Froissart engages us with his, and the Medieval worlds passion for storytelling, be it world shaking events, or light-hearted moments. It does take a little getting used to, a book recalling contemporary and near contemporary events that we regard as historical, without the dry clinical passion of the modern historian. Froissart jumped in, grabbed whomever he could that had something to say, and wrang it out of them, adding a bit of blood and thunder, getting a few names, dates and places wrong along the way, but sweeping us along the rich tapestry of the High Middle Ages during bloody times.

[Gerry Grenfell-Walford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars to reflect my deep ambivalence about the text. Froissart is often thought of as the 'chronicler of the Hundred Years War' and that's certainly what you get here. To his credit, Froissart is surprisingly approachable, and while not flawless does give us one of the clearest and generally most accurate accounts of his chosen subject. Brereton's translation is also excellent, illuminating, and doesn't bog down the text with annotations and academic minutiae.
But my word it makes for grim reading!
Of course Froissart was writing for his time, not us, and his world is foundationally different in it's assumptions and priorities than ours. But where he sees notable and manly deeds, to stir the blood and promote chivalry and nobility, I see much more vainglory and unforgivable waste, not just of resources but of human life. Shocking waste. The English do seem to have by far the most efficient war machine in Western Europe at this time. The French armies meanwhile seem disorganized and divided and unjustifiably pompous. To my contemporary mind, neither emerges with much 'glory'.
It is a blessed relief then, when Froissart turns his attention elsewhere, and personally these vignettes account for why I have given Froissart three stars. His accounts of the Peasants Revolt and the Jacquerie, his sojourn at the Count of Foix's, the 'Tale of the Familiar' etc... This all adds some much needed diversion and also give us a much rounder picture than the glorified thuggery of the Mediaeval battlefield would suggest.
Not Froissart's fault, of course: his times were what they were, and even now I suspect most readers of his work today still read it to experience, this time vicariously, the military engagements. Moreover Froissart himself doesn't distinguish between aspects of his times. War, diplomacy, faith, marriage, peace, all are set out here with an even hand and an organicity and interrelatedness that for me are Froissart's ultimate ace. He DOES ultimately succeed in creating a tapestry of his world. Repugnant and alien as large sections of it is (to this reader at least), Froissart's 'Chronicles' do just that.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

You sometimes come to a book backwards, as I did after hearing Edward Elgar's overture "Froissart" on Public Radio.

Froissart, a contemporary of Chaucer's, was one of the early chroniclers of life and history. (Earlier, poems or plays or song were commonly used to recount the past.) Froissart chose to follow the events of the Hundred Years' War between England and France. He also details the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 in England and the Papal Schism. His details on the Peasants' Revolt are very good.

Though he is an advocate for chivalry between knights (and so an advocate of the royalty), there's plenty of treachery and brutality in the history as well. His attitude towards the royal structure is emphasized when discussing Richard II of England's trouble in 1387. The Duke of Ireland gets the blame, as "a kingdom can never be well governed nor a sovereign properly advised by bad people. It always happens that, when a poor man rises in the world ... he becomes corrupt. A base man has no idea what honour means ..."

His chronicles cover important battles during the Hundred Years' War but dwells more on personalities than on tactics.

[Cwl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5, really. I hate modern military history because it often becomes this obsessive poring over ammunition or troop movements. I tend to prefer general-summary kinds of things, and I also like unbelievable nonsense. So I was pretty stoked with the first half of the book, which featured horses being miraculously turned to ash because their riders stole from a church! And a knight that is turned into a talking bear who then curses the man who hunts him! This is history the way Herodotus wrote it, all gussied up with tall tales and improbably long speeches. When I got to the later sections, which are full of court drama and peopled with all these Dukes, things got less fun. Still don't regret reading it, but I probably won't pay it a second visit.

[Martin Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Consider for a moment what it is like when the people are roused to revolt and get the upper hand of their master, and especially in England. Then there is no stopping it, for they are the most dangerous common people in the world, the most violent and presumptuous. And of all the commons in England the Londoners are the ringleaders. They are indeed very powerful in men and resources. Within in the boundaries of London they can raise twenty-four thousand men armed from head to foot and at least thirty thousand archers. That is great strength, for they are tough, sturdy , bold and confident. And the more blood they see flowing , the bolder and fiercer they grow."

[Paul Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly personal and af times questionable account of the latter part of the fourteenth century from the viewpoint of the English and French courts in which Froissart served. This translation is a highly readable account covering the great battles (Crecy, Sluys and Poitier as well as Otterburn) as well as descriptions of court life and ways. A contemporary of Chaucer Froissart's Chronicles should be more widely read and known. They have even prompted me to give Morte D'Arthur another chance.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best required reading for history class so far. Unlike other books, not too much babble about God and goes into gruesome details of plundering. Also has ghost stories, and a couple other funny chapters on medieval tropes.

[Julio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una crónica imprescindible para entender el concepto de caballería posterior a la Peste Negra en lo que se ha venido a llamar el Otoño de la Edad Media.
Lo mejor es ver la subjetividad de Froissart tanto en los silencios como en lo grandilocuentemente contado.

[Chet Taranowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlike many books from this era the language is accessible. Basically it is a history of the conflict between England and France, with some other amusing stories thrown in. I enjoyed it.

[Neil Crowle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good translation (a little abridged) of an interesting and enlightening medieval historical record. Deepened my knowledge of French and English history during the fourteenth century a lot.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A French chronicler's perspective, interesting source for the Battle of Otterburn.

[Tristan]

I have a 1906 hardback from J M Dent & Co of London. The text is based on the translation by Johnes of Hafod in 1803-10, adapted by H P Dunster in 1853.

[Aman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing in the world is as certain as death

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Froissart's chronicles of the 14th century are divided into four books. They are a bit tedious at times, but a wonderful insight into his views of the 1300s.