Theorizing the Ideal Sovereign : The Rise of the French Vernacular Royal Biography

Theorizing the Ideal Sovereign , examines the ways in which vernacular biographies of kings from the later French Middle Ages reflected and contributed to transformations in late-medieval political and philosophical thought. Using a lens of literary analysis for works that have more often been read as historical source documents, Daisy Delogu demonstrates how theories of kingship evolved in the period of the "rediscovery" of Aristotle, the rise of the vernacular as a language of ethics and philosophy, and the Hundred Years' War. By means of a series of close readings of Jean de Joinville's Vie de Saint Louis, Guillaume de Machaut's Prise d'Alixandre, and Christine de Pizan's biography of Charles V, Delogu examines the ways in which biographical writings on kings could advance precise political aims. She also shows how these texts contributed to nascent ideas of nationhood, exerted pressure upon traditional ideals of kingship, and ultimately redefined the theoretical and practical bases of medieval kingship. This study of vernacular kings's lives illuminates the important role that literary works played in shaping ideas more traditionally discussed in legal, historical, or institutional terms. Theorizing the Ideal Sovereign restores late medieval kings's lives to ethical and political conversations of which they were an integral part, and revives the lively interaction between texts and readers that formed the basis for medieval reading experiences. Theorizing The Ideal Sovereign Examines The Ways In Which Vernacular Biographies Of Kings From The Later French Middle Ages Reflected And Contributed To Transformations In Late-medieval Political And Philosophical Thought. Using A Lens Of Literary Analysis For Works That Have More Often Been Read As Historical Source Documents, Daisy Delogu Demonstrates How Theories Of Kingship Evolved In The Period Of The 'rediscovery' Of Aristotle, The Rise Of The Vernacular As A Language Of Ethics And Philosophy, And The Hundred Years' War.--book Jacket. 1. Models Of Sanctity And Kingship In Joinville's Vie De Saint Louis: Will The Real Louis Ix Please Stand? -- 2. Hugh The Butcher: Lineage, Election, And Succession In The Chanson De Hugues Capet -- 3. Crusading Ideal In Guillaume De Machaut's Prise D'alixandre -- 4. Herald Chandos's Vie Du Prince Noir: A Prince Tree Chretien -- 5. Reinventing Kingship: Christine De Pizan's Livre Des Fais Et Bonnes Meurs Du Sageroy Charles V -- Appendix. Genealogical Table - The Last Capetians, The First Valois, And Claimants To The French Throne. Daisy Delogu. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [261]-292) And Indexes. Contents 5 Acknowledgments 7 Introduction 11 1. Models of Sanctity and Kingship in Joinville’s Vie de saint Louis: Will the Real Louis IX Please Stand? 30 2. Hugh the Butcher: Lineage, Election, and Succession in the Chanson de Hugues Capet 66 3. The Crusading Ideal in Guillaume de Machaut’s Prise d’Alixandre 100 4. The Herald Chandos’s Vie du Prince Noir: A prince très chrétien 132 5. Reinventing Kingship: Christine de Pizan’s Livre des fais et bonnes meurs du sage roy Charles V 161 Notes 193 Appendix 265 Works Consulted 269 Index of Subjects 301 Index of Places and Proper Names 305 Delogu examines how biographical writings on kings contributed to nascent ideas of nationhood, exerted pressure upon traditional ideals of kingship, and ultimately redefined the theoretical and practical bases of medieval kingship.