In his subsequent retirement, Jean V composed his famous Le Jouvencel (ca. 1466)—
part autobiographical reflection, part art of warfare, all couched as a roman à clef. Much
is borrowed from Christine de Pizan’s Livre des fais d’armes and other sources, but there
are many personal insights into 15th-century life and warfare. Le Jouvencel faithfully
describes in prose the ideal warrior as he was conceived during the reigns of Charles VII
and Louis XI. It was popular, with at least thirteen manuscripts preserved, as well as five
printed editions between 1493 and 1529.
John Bell Henneman, Jr./William W.Kibler
[See also: HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR]
Jean de Bueil. Le Jouvencel par Jean de Bueil, suivi du commentaire de Guillaume Tringant, ed.
Camille Favre and Léon Lecestre. 2 vols. Paris: Renouard, 1887–89.
Contamine, Philippe. Guerre, état et société a la fin du moyen âge: études sur les armées des rois
de France 1337–1494. Paris: Mouton, 1972.
Coopland, George William. “Le Jouvencel (Re-Visited).” Sym-posium 5(1951):137–86.
Jauernick, Stéfanie. Studien zu Jean de Bueil “Le Jouvencel”: Untersuchungen zum französischen
Prosaroman der zweiten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts. Wiesbaden: Steiner, 1975.
BURGUNDIAN CHRONICLERS
. The dukes of Burgundy, Philip the Bold (1342–1404), John the Fearless (1371–1419),
Philip the Good (1396–1467), and Charles the Bold (1433–1477), all exhibited great
interest in history not only by collecting historical writings but also by appointing official
court chroniclers and serving as patrons to writers who wrote historical accounts. These
numerous writers approached their task with differing degrees of objectivity. Some were
admitted propagandists, while others set out to alter the truth while appearing serious and
competent. Some were excellent writers, while others became bogged down in artificial
rhetoric. As a group, they left an invaluable record of the Burgundian court, which has
given this time and place prestige, importance, and influence; and the style and
comprehensiveness of their writings have influenced subsequent chroniclers and
historians.
Froissart traced the beginnings of the power of the house of Burgundy, and the future
chroniclers of Burgundy imitated and claimed to continue his work. The first was
Enguerrand de Monstrelet, a native of Picardy, whose ac-counts cover the years 1400–44.
Although present at the meeting between Philip the Good and Jeanne d’Arc, he did not
record any of the conversation, claiming a lapse of memory. Matthieu d’Escouchy, from
Hainaut, continued the narrative to 1461. Slightly livelier and less partisan, he describes
spectacular feasts and celebrations, including the famous Pheasant Banquet (1454).
The most renowned of these chroniclers, Georges Chastellain received his
appointment as official historiographer of the Burgundian court from Philip the Good in
1455. In the prologue to his chronicle, Chastellain defined for himself the role of
historian, aiming for impartiality and objectivity. Sincere, independent, and truthful, he
nevertheless tried to dwell on the strong points of the reigning family while minimizing
the weak ones. He documented his accounts thoroughly from contemporary works and
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