Bloch, Marc. French Rural History: An Essay in Its Basic Characteristics, trans. Janet Sondheimer.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 1966.
Duby, Georges. Rural Economy and Country Life in the Medieval West, trans. Cynthia Postan.
Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1968.
Higounet, Charles. Paysages et villages neufs du moyen âge. Bordeaux: Fédération Historique du
Sud-Ouest, 1975.
Lyon, Bryce. “Medieval Real Estate Developments and Freedom.” American Historical Review
63(1957):47–61.
VILLENEUVE-SUR-YONNE
. A “new town” founded in 1163 by Louis VII, Villefranche-le-Roy (now Villeneuvesur-
Yonne in the department of Yonne) preserves at either end of its main street the massive
Gothic town gates (Porte de Sens; Porte de Joigny). Portions of the original ramparts are
also standing, as well as the 12th-century cylindrical keep (Tour Louis-le-Gros) and 12th-
century bridge. The church of Notre-Dame, begun in 1240, shows both Burgundian and
Champenois influence. The choir and ambulatory were constructed first, followed by the
wide nave and side aisles. The façade is pure Renaissance.
William W.Kibler/William W.Clark
[See also: VILLENEUVE]
Lafond, Jean. “Les vitraux de l’église Notre-Dame a Villeneuvesur-Yonne.” Congrès
archéologique (Auxerre) 116(1958): 378–82.
Vallery-Radot, Jean. “Villeneuve-sur-Yonne.” Congrès archéologique(Auxerre) 116(1958):370–
77.
VILLON, FRANÇOIS
(1431–1463). Of all the lyricists of late-medieval France, Villon is the most celebrated
among both scholars and general readers. Students of premodern literature inside and
outside the francophone world have encountered him in his original Middle French; and
thousands of people who have little or no French have read versions of his poems in the
major European languages.
It was not always thus. The circle of contemporaries who knew of Villon’s literary
abilities was a modest one. He tells us in his Testament that an earlier work, the Lais, is
already in circulation and being referred to by a title not of his choosing. On the other
hand, the number of early sources preserving his poems is small; and his readers were in
general not found among the rich and powerful. Although some such personages come in
for mention in his verses, it is usually in the context of appeals for money, or of distant,
uneasy, or downright irreverent allusion; Villon was not a success with well-off patrons
of literature. The fame he sought eluded him. He seemingly hoped for a career as a court
The Encyclopedia 1813