Geoffrey Chaucer - Solocal Directory Whitstable Herne Canterbury Kent

Information Resource

Chronology of Geoffrey Chaucer's life and times

EVENTS

c. 1312-1313

Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer's father, John Chaucer.

c. 1340-1345

Birth of Geoffrey Chaucer.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1369

Chaucer travels to Northern France and serves in the army of John of Gaunt.

1370

Chaucer travels to the Continent (France probably) on the King's service.

1368-1372

Chaucer writes "Fragment A" of the Romaunt of the Rose, probably many poems in French and English, now lost, and such poems as The Complaint unto Pity and The Complaint to His Lady.

1370

Chaucer again serves with the army in France

c. 1372-1377

Chaucer writes the poems later adapted as the Second Nun's Tale and the Monk's Tale in The Canterbury Tales

1372

Chaucer's wife Philippa in service in the household of John of Gaunt's wife.

1372

Chaucer travels to Italy on a diplomatic mission. He goes to Genoa to establish an English port for Genoese trade and to Florence to negotiate a loan for the King.

1374

Chaucer is appointed Controller of the Customs for hides, skins and wool in the port of London; he is granted a lease on a dwelling above Aldgate.

1374

Chaucer is granted a pitcher of wine daily by the King. John of Gaunt grants Chaucer an annuity of 10 pounds.

1375

Both Chaucer and Otho de Graunson receive grants from John of Gaunt. (Otho de Graunson is a French knight and poet on whose poems Chaucer drew for his Complaint of Venus).

1376-1377

Several journeys to France and Flanders to negotiate for peace and the marriage of Richard with a French princess.

1378

Chaucer travels to Italy Milan on a diplomatic mission. John Gower and Richard Forester have Chaucer's power of attorney while he travels abroad

1378

Richard II confirms Edwars III's annuity of 20 pounds and establishes a second annuity of 20 pounds.

c. 1378 1381

Chaucer writes Saint Cecelia, The House of Fame, Anelida and Arcite and Palamon and Arcite later adapted as The Knight's Tale.

1380

Accused, and acquited of the 'raptus' of Cecily Champain. Cecily Champain (Chaumpaigne) signs a document releasing Chaucer from all actions in the case of her rape or abduction ("de raptu meo").

1380

Birth of Chaucer's second son, Lewis.

Chaucer writes The Parliament of Fowls.

1381

Death of Chaucer's mother, Agnes Copton.

1382

Controllorship of the customs is renewed, with permission to have a deputy.

1381-86

Chaucer writes Boece and Troilus and Criseyde.

1385

Chaucer granted a permanent deputy in the Customs

1385-1389

Chaucer serves as Justice of the Peace for Kent.

1386

Chaucer becomes a Member of Parliament for Kent. Chaucer retires from Controllership of Customs. As the lease on the house in Aldgate was relinquished, he probably moved.

1386

Chaucer writes The Legend of Good Women. Some parts have been written earlier and the prologue is revised later.

1387

Death of Philippa Chaucer, Geoffrey Chaucer's wife.

1387-1392

Chaucer begins The Canterbury Tales.

1389

On 12 July 1389, Chaucer is appointed clerk of the Works at Westminster, Tower of London, and other royal estates. This was probably his most arduous position. The clerkship represented a heavier and more direct responsibility than the controllership. As a royal clerk he supervised a great number of craftsmen and property. The arrangement of the purchase, transportation and storage of supplies was Chaucer's responsibility.

1390

As Clerk of the works, Chaucer has scaffolds built for jousts in Smithfield.

Chaucer is appointed Commissioner of Walls and Ditches, responsible for works on the Thames between Woolwich and Greenwich.

Chaucer is robbed of horse, goods, 20 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence at Hatcham (Surrey). The robbers were caught, tried and convicted.

1391

Chaucer is robbed twice. Robbers take away 10 pounds at Westminster and 9 pounds, 43 pence at Hatcham. This brings the total number of robberies to three. However, the legal records differ widely and it is impossible to determine whether there were three robberies or only one.

1391

Chaucer retired from Clerkship of the King's works. In June 1391 he is appointed Deputy Forester of the Royal Forest of North Petherton, Somerset. In late medieval England forests were sources of revenue. The forestership was a responsible position which demanded skill in handling money and men.

1391-1392

Chaucer writes The Treatise of the Astrolabe (with additions in 1393 and later) for his son Lewis.

1392-1395

Most of The Canterbury Tales, including probably "The Marriage Group."

1393

Chaucer is awarded 10 pounds by the King for services rendered.

1394

Chaucer is granted an annuity for life of 20 pounds by the King.

1395

Chaucer's son Thomas marries the heiress Maud Burghersh.

1396

Envoy to Bukton, in which he is urged to read The Wife of Bath.

1396-1400

Chaucer writes the latest of The Canterbury Tales, including probably The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's tale (though parts probably earlier), and The Parson's Tale and several short poems, including Scogan, and Bukton.

1397

Chaucer is granted a tun (252 gallons) of wine a year by the King.

1399

Henry IV confirms Chaucer's financial rights and privileges granted by Richard II, with an additional annuity of 40 pounds. On 24 December Chaucer leases a tenement, for 53 years, in the garden of the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

1400

Chaucer writes The Complaint of Chaucer to His Purse.

1400

Chaucer's Death on 25 October. He has been buried in Westminster Abbey. A tomb, erected by an admirer in the fifteenth century, marks his grave and his remains were subsequently moved. He was the first who was buried in what we now know as the 'Poets Corner' in Westminster Abbey.

View, Add, Promote Events for the Canterbury area. Click EVENTS to find out what's On . . .