Martin le Franc
Encyclopedia
Martin le Franc was a French
poet of the late Middle Ages
and early Renaissance
.
He was born in Normandy
, and studied in Paris
. He entered clerical orders, becoming an apostolic prothonotary
, and later becoming secretary to both Antipope Felix V
and Pope Nicholas V
.
He was named provost at Lausanne
in 1443, became canon of the Church of Geneva
in 1447. In 1451 he was employed by the Duke of Savoy
, and he became administrator of the abbey of Novalèse in 1459.
Le Franc's most famous work was his huge, 24,000-verse composition Le Champion des Dames (The Champion of Women), dedicated to Philip the Good and dating from 1440 or 1442 (first printed in Lyon in 1485 and again in Paris in 1530). It recounts the nobility and deeds of many women throughout history, including Joan of Arc
, and also fiercely attacks corruption in government as well as the hedonistic luxury of the aristocratic class. It was illuminated
by Peronet Lamy
.
Martin le Franc is famous in music history for penning the phrase "la contenance angloise", the English countenance, a much-debated phrase referring to a characteristically English sound found in the music of composers such as John Dunstable
. The "countenance" — probably consonant, sweet sounds which were predominant in the music of contemporary English composers — was massively influential on the music of the Burgundian School
during the period that Burgundy was allied with England.
Another long poem by Le Franc is L'Estrif de Fortune et Vertu (1447-1448), which was also moralistic and didactic, presenting a debate between Fortune and Virtue.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
poet of the late Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and early Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
.
He was born in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and studied in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He entered clerical orders, becoming an apostolic prothonotary
Prothonotary
The word prothonotary is recorded in English since 1447, as "principal clerk of a court," from L.L. prothonotarius , from Greek protonotarios "first scribe," originally the chief of the college of recorders of the court of the Byzantine Empire, from Greek protos "first" + Latin notarius ; the -h-...
, and later becoming secretary to both Antipope Felix V
Antipope Felix V
-External links:*...
and Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
.
He was named provost at Lausanne
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
in 1443, became canon of the Church of Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1447. In 1451 he was employed by the Duke of Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
, and he became administrator of the abbey of Novalèse in 1459.
Le Franc's most famous work was his huge, 24,000-verse composition Le Champion des Dames (The Champion of Women), dedicated to Philip the Good and dating from 1440 or 1442 (first printed in Lyon in 1485 and again in Paris in 1530). It recounts the nobility and deeds of many women throughout history, including Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
, and also fiercely attacks corruption in government as well as the hedonistic luxury of the aristocratic class. It was illuminated
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
by Peronet Lamy
Peronet Lamy
Peronet Lamy , called Perenet lenlumineur , was a Gothic painter and manuscript illuminator who spent his career in the employ of the House of Savoy....
.
Martin le Franc is famous in music history for penning the phrase "la contenance angloise", the English countenance, a much-debated phrase referring to a characteristically English sound found in the music of composers such as John Dunstable
John Dunstable
John Dunstaple was an English composer of polyphonic music of the late medieval era and early Renaissance...
. The "countenance" — probably consonant, sweet sounds which were predominant in the music of contemporary English composers — was massively influential on the music of the Burgundian School
Burgundian School
The Burgundian School is a term used to denote a group of composers active in the 15th century in what is now northern and eastern France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, centered on the court of the Dukes of Burgundy. The main names associated with this school are Guillaume Dufay, Gilles Binchois,...
during the period that Burgundy was allied with England.
Another long poem by Le Franc is L'Estrif de Fortune et Vertu (1447-1448), which was also moralistic and didactic, presenting a debate between Fortune and Virtue.