Thirteenth Century French Texts on the Internet

The thirteenth century saw the continuation and death of chivalric literature. Perhaps due to the relative failure of the crusades and the growing political difficulties, both internally and externally, the littérature courtoise would fall into disfavor by the end of the century. The tradition of the epic, too, while still popular, would take a similar course. The literature of the bourgeoisie (particularly the fabliau) continued to gain in popularity, as did the theater, which although religious in its origin, now began to take on a satirical bent. By the fifteenth century religious theater would compete with new, secular forms (soties, farces, etc.). Perhaps the greatest literary development of the thirteenth century was the chroniqueur, such as Villehardouin, and later, Joinville, Froissart and Commines. While not historians in the modern sense, they nevertheless gave accounts based at least in part on historical fact. The services of the chroniclers would prove particularly valuable during the course of the fourteenth century; much of our understanding of the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453) is due to their accounts, particularly those of Froissart.

©1997, 2008 by Joseph E. Price. Use permitted with appropriate citation.

Anonymous
Aucassin et Nicolette.
Aucassin et Nicolette. A fantastic site with documentation and music.
Fabliau de la male honte.
Le voyage de Saint Brendan. A fantastic site.

Jean Bodel
Fabliaux

Robert de Clary
Histoire de ceux qui conquirent Constantinople

Adam de la Halle
Adam de la Halle Bibliography.
Le Jeu d'Adam. Texts with midi sound files
Le Jeu d'Adam.
Le Jeu d'Adam. Pdf file version.
Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion
Le Jeu de Robin et de Marion

Jean de Joinville
Livre des saintes paroles et des bons faiz nostre roy saint Looys

Rutebeuf
Gallica Classique offers Les Oeuvres complètes de Rutebeuf, Vol I as well as Vol. II .

Le Miracle de Théophile

La croisade de Constantinople

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