Jean Meschinot was a Breton poet who wrote in French

French language

French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...

 at the court of the dukes of Brittany. His birthplace was in the Mortiers domain, around 30km south of Nantes, capital of the duchy, and he came from the minor nobility. A squire of the ducal household under John VI

John VI, Duke of Brittany

John VI the Wise , was duke of Brittany, count of Montfort, and titular earl of Richmond, from 1399 to his death...

, he was highly favoured under dukes Peter II

Peter II, Duke of Brittany

Peter II , was duke of Brittany, count of Montfort and titular earl of Richmond, from 1450 to his death. He was son of Duke John VI and Joan of France, and thus was younger brother of Francis I.In 1442, he married Françoise d'Amboise Peter II (in Breton Pêr II, in French Pierre II) (1418 –...

 and Arthur III

Arthur III, Duke of Brittany

Arthur III , known as the Justicier and as Arthur de Richemont, was Lord of Parthenay and titular Count of Richmond in England and for eleven months at the very end of his life, Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort after inheriting those titles upon the death of his nephew.-Biography:Belonging...

, composing rondeau

Rondeau (poetry)

This article is about the poetry form. For other uses, see Rondeau.A rondeau is a form of French poetry with 15 lines written on two rhymes, as well as a corresponding musical form developed to set this characteristic verse structure...

s and ballades. Just as he was about to become 'official poet' he came into disfavour with duke Francis II. Historian Johann Huizinga quotes a ballad of his indicting Louis XI for crimes against France: "You have sinned against peace..."

He was maître d’hôtel to the young Anne of Brittany

Anne of Brittany

Anne, Duchess of Brittany , also known as Anna of Brittany , was a Breton ruler, who was to become queen to two successive French kings. She was born in Nantes, Brittany, and was the daughter of Francis II, Duke of Brittany and Margaret of Foix. Her maternal grandparents were Queen Eleanor of...

from 1488 onwards, dying before her marriage and Brittany's merger into France.