| 1328 |
Edward
marries Philippa of Hainault; Sir Paon de Roet in her entourage. |
| 1330 |
Birth
of Edward, the Black Prince. |
| 1331 |
1331
England at war with Scotland: France intervenes on behalf of Scotland. |
| 1338 |
Boccaccio
completes Il Filostrato. Unsuccessful invasion of northern France (beginning
of Hundred Years' War).
John
Chaucer (Geoffrey's father) in the King's company. |
| 1340 |
Birth
of John of Gaunt.
National
Library of Scotland copied. As a result, the Auchinleck MS possibly available
to Chaucer. |
| 1343 |
(?)
Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer to John (a wine merchant) and Agnes Chaucer
Edward
III takes title "King of France" setting up the "Hundred Year War" |
| 1346 |
Victory
over France at Battle of Crécy. |
| 1347-9 |
John
Chaucer holds post as King's Deputy Butler in the port of Southhampton. |
| 1348-9 |
Black
Death reaches England. |
| 1350's |
Alliterative
Poetry again popular in North-west and Western England |
| 1351 |
First
"Statutes of Laborers" attempts to fix wages and control the labor movement
in the period of labor shortages after the black death. |
| 1356 |
Battle
of Poitiers; high point of England's success in the "100 Year War" with
France; King John of France captured, he and his retainers live in the
English court for three years. |
| 1357 |
First
record of Chaucer: a young page in household of Countess of Ulster, wife
of Prince Lionel (Edward III's second son). Phillippa Pan also in household. |
| 1359-60 |
In
service as a valettus (yoeman) in the retinue of Prince Lionel.
May,
1359: (?) Chaucer at wedding of John of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster.
Gaunt
becomes Duke of Lancaster.
After
November 3: Chaucer in French in Prince Lionel's company. |
| 1360 |
Chaucer
captured in France and ransomed by the king. |
| 1361-67 |
Prier
a Nostre Dame; Romaunt of the Rose; early Complaints |
| 1361 |
Black
Prince marries Joan of Kent.
(?)
Chaucer at Inns of Chancery.
Terrible
second wave of black plague. |
| 1363 |
Death
of Countess of Ulster.
(?)
Philippa Pan (later Chaucer) enters service of Queen Philippa.
(?)
Chaucer at Inns of Court. |
| 1365-6 |
Marries
Philippa, 1st daughter of Paon de Roet (in the household of Queen Philippa)
and sister of Katherine (later mistress and third wife of John of Gaunt,
Duke of Lancaster). |
| 1366 |
February
22-May 24: safe conduct for Chaucer to travel in Spain. Philippa Chaucer
granted royal annuity of 10 marks. Death of Chaucer's father; mother remarries. |
| 1367 |
Geoffrey
Chaucer granted royal annuity of 20 marks as he enters the King's service
as an esquire of the royal household. Birth of son, Thomas. |
| 1368 |
Death
of Blanche, John of Gaunt's wife and Duchess of Lancaster. French war active.
Chaucer on mission in France. |
| 1368-1369 |
Book
of the Duchess |
| 1369 |
Chaucer
with Gaunt in raid on Picardy. Death of Queen Philippa. (?) Philippa Chaucer
enters Gaunt's household. |
| 1370 |
June
20-September 29: Chaucer on misssion in France, (?) with Gaunt in Aquitaine. |
| 1371 |
Gaunt
marries Princess Constanza of Castile, King Pedro's daughter. |
| 1373-1377 |
Parliament
of Fowls; St. Cecelia; Monk's tragedies; Anelida |
| 1372 |
Katherine
Swynford, sister of Philippa Chaucer, bears first son by Gaunt.
August
30: Gaunt grants Philippa Chaucer annuity of £10. December 1: Chaucer
leaves for Genoa, visits Florence. (Boccaccio in Florence; Petrarch in
Padua. Probably first contact with poetry of Boccaccio, Petrarch, Dante. |
| 1373 |
May
23: Chaucer returns to London.
(?)
Birth of Thomas Chaucer. July 13: Gaunt goes to French wars. |
| 1374 |
April
10: Gaunt returns from French wars. April 23: Chaucer receives a royal
grant of a pitcher of wine daily.
May
10: Chaucer leases Aldgate house and sets up housekeeping.
June
8: Chaucer made controller of customs.
June
13: Geoffrey and Philippa receive £10 annuity from Gaunt. Death of
Petrarch. |
| 1375 |
Death
of Boccaccio. John Barbour's poem The Bruce completed. |
| 1376 |
Death
of Edward, the Black Prince. Chaucer on mission to Calais. The "Good Parliament":
the Commons attemp to purge the royal household of foreign influence and
assert control over the king's choice of advisors. |
| 1377 |
February
17: April 30: Chaucer on mission in France concerning peace treaty and
marriage of Richard.
June
22: death of Edward III and accession of his grandson, Richard II, age
10. Government controlled by Gaunt.
Guillaume
de Machaut, French Troubadour Poet, dies. During late 70's Langland revising
Piers Plowman, B-text. |
| 1378-1381 |
House
of Fame (probably '80, as it references the negotiations toward
Richard
II's marriage to Anne of bohemia, 3 May, 1381);
Boece
(? could be a little later); Boethian balades; Palamon and Arcite |
| 1378 |
Januage
16-March 9: Chaucer in France concerning marriage of Richard to French
king's daughter Marie.
April
18: daily pitcher of wine replaced by annuity of 20 marks.
May
28--September 19: Chaucer in Lombardy to treat with Barnabo visconti (Gower
given Chaucer's power of attorney). |
| 1380 |
May
1: Chaucer released from suit for "raptus" of Cecily Chambain. (?) Birth
of Lewis Chaucer (for whom Chaucer wrote the Treatise on the Astrolabe
in 1391). |
| 1381 |
Peasant's
Revolt. June 19: deed of Geoffrey Chaucer, son of John Chaucer, vintner
of London, quitclaiming his father's house. |
| 1381
and 1386 |
Troylus
and Creseyde; Legend of Good Women.
Langland
working on Piers Plowman, C Text. |
| 1382 |
Richard
II marries Anne of Bohemia |
| 1383 |
Chaucer
obtains first loan against his annuity |
| 1385 |
October
12: Chaucer appointed justice of the peace in Kent.
Political
struggle between Gaunt and his brother, Thomas of Woodstock.
September:
death of Joan of Kent. |
| 1386 |
Justice
of peach reaffirmed. February 19: Philippa admitted to fraternity of Lincoln
Cathedral.
August:
Chaucer elected member of Parliament from Kent.
October
5: Aldgate house rented to Richard Forester.
October
15: Scrope-Grosvenor trial.
December
4: Chaucer resigns and Adam Yardley appointed controller of customs. |
| 1386--1387: |
Canterbury
Prologue; early Tales (Knight, Part VII) |
| 1387 |
Death
of Phillipa; June 18: last payment of annuity of Philippa Chaucer. John
Gower begins his Confessio Amantis, which contains Venus's praise of Chaucer.
Chaucer begins Canterbury Tales. |
| 1388--1389: |
Fabliaux
(Miller, Reeve) |
| 1388 |
May
1: Chaucer surrenders his royal annuities to John Scalby of Lincolnshire. |
| 1389 |
King
Richard assumes power. Chaucer appointed clerk of the King's works (more
than £30 per year.
Christine
de Pizan begins writing in France. |
| 1390
and 1394: |
Marriage
group Wife of Bath (?) ( could be a bit later--see below),
Friar, Summoner, Merchant, Clerk, Franklin) Astrolabe; Equatorie of Planets,
Legend of Good Women (?) |
| 1390 |
Commissions
to repair St. George's Chapel, Windsor; to oversee repairs on the lower
Thames sewers and conduits; to build bleachers for jousts at Smithfield,
etc.
Chaucer
robbed of the king's money on the highway.
Chaucer
appointed sub-forester of North Petherton, Somerset. |
| 1391 |
June
17: Resigns as clerk of the kings works; another clerk appointed. |
| 1393 |
Chaucer
granted a gift of £10 from Richard for services rendered "in this
year now present." |
| 1394 |
Death
of Queen Anne. Chaucer granted a new annuity of £20. |
| 1395 |
Richard
marries Isabella of France.
Thomas
Chaucer marries heiress Maud Berghersh. |
| 1396-1399 |
Balades
to Scogan, Bukton (Mentioned in Wife of Bath). |
| 1397 |
Granted
a tun of wine a year. John of Gaunt marries Katherine Swynford. |
| 1398 |
Chaucer
borrows against his annuity; action for debt against Chaucer; letters of
protection from the King. |
| 1399 |
Deposition
of Richard II. Death of John of Gaunt. October 13: on his coronation day,
Henry doubles Chaucer's annuity.
December
24: Chaucer signs 53-year lease for tenement in the garden of the Lady
Chapel, Westminster Abbey. |
About
UMM
Academics
