Christine R. Page

Christine de Pizan (born Cristina da Pizzano, c. 1364 – c. 1430) was an Italian-born writer who achieved prominence in medieval France. After her husband's death, she became a professional writer to support her family, crafting prose and poetry for the French royal court and nobility. Her patrons included prominent figures like Louis I of Orleans and John the Fearless of Burgundy. De Pizan's extensive writings covered a wide range of subjects, including politics, philosophy, religion, and biography. Her works are sometimes considered early feminist literature.

Her career flourished during a period of political instability in France, marked by the mental health struggles of King Charles VI. De Pizan navigated these turbulent times by aligning with different factions of the royal family and producing works that offered advice on governance and leadership. She engaged in significant literary debates, notably questioning the portrayal of women in Jean de Meun's "Romance of the Rose." Her legacy includes influential texts on chivalry and the ideal conduct of rulers and women.

Born in Venice, Italy, around 1364, Christine de Pizan moved to Paris in 1368 when her father, Thomas de Pizan, accepted a position as court astrologer to Charles V of France. She married Etienne du Castel, a royal secretary, in 1379. The death of her husband from the plague in 1389, following her father's death the previous year, left her responsible for her mother and three children. Facing financial difficulties and legal battles over her husband's estate, Christine turned to writing to earn a living. By 1393, her love ballads gained the attention of wealthy patrons, launching her career as a writer.

Christine de Pizan became one of Europe's first professional women of letters. Despite her Venetian origins, she developed a strong attachment to France, dedicating her early works to members of the French royal family. Her writing career coincided with shifts in book production and patronage, moving from manuscript rolls to bound codices, with royalty and nobility commissioning books. She navigated the complex political landscape of the French court, which was divided by factions like the Burgundy and Orleans. De Pizan produced commissioned works for various patrons, often creating luxury illustrated editions, and also published works for wider dissemination among the nobility.

During the reign of the mentally unstable Charles VI, Christine de Pizan wrote extensively on governance and leadership. She published works dedicated to Queen Isabeau and the dauphin, offering advice on virtuous rule. Her chronicle of Charles V, "Le Livre des fais et bonnes meurs du sage roy Charles V," presented him as an ideal monarch. De Pizan favored hereditary monarchies over other forms of governance. She also produced a significant manual on military warfare and chivalry, "Livre des faits d'armes et de chevalerie," written in French for practical application by warriors. This work discussed theories of just war and addressed contemporary issues of military conduct, including the treatment of noncombatants.

Christine de Pizan authored works that celebrated the intellectual and leadership qualities of women, notably "Le Livre de la cité des dames" (The Book of the City of Ladies) and "Le Livre des trois vertus" (The Treasure of the City of Ladies). These books offered advice and presented examples of notable female figures. She also engaged in a prominent literary controversy, the "Querelle du Roman de la Rose," where she challenged the misogynistic views presented in Jean de Meun's "Romance of the Rose." Her writings reflect a desire to counter negative portrayals of women and advocate for their capabilities and virtues.