Jean de Venette (c. 1307 – c. 1370) was a French chronicler and a Carmelite friar born at Venette, near Compiègne who wrote about the events around him during the period of the Hundreds Year War. He was referred to as a "Fillons", author or translator of a long poem circa 1357.[1] In 1339, he became prior of the Carmelite convent in the Place Maubert, Paris, and was provincial of France from 1341 to 1366. In 1368 he was still living, but probably died shortly thereafter. His Latin Chronicle, covering the years 1340 to 1368, was published by Achery (Spicilegium, vol. iii) with the continuations of the chronicle of William of Nangis.[2]
A more recent translation, The Chronicle of Jean de Venette, by Jean Birdsall, late Associate Professor of History Vassar College, Edited by Richard A. Newhall, Brown Professor of European History Williams College, holds the opinion that Guillaume (William) de Nangis is neither the primary chronicler nor the Second Continuator, so, although there is a conflicting opinion as to the later authorships, Jean de Venette seems to be the primary chronicler. The facts seem to indicate a dual authorship from 1340 to 1368.[3] During the years 1358-1359 the entries were contemporary with the events recorded; the earlier portion of the work, if it was begun as early as 1340, was subjected to revision later, though Venette himself states on the first page of his chronicle (1340) he is recording events "...in great measure as I have seen and heard them.".''[4]
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What is noteworthy and perhaps unique about Jean de Venette's work is his divergence from the more common form of writing used by medieval and monastic chroniclers of his time in that he showed great understanding and sympathy for the peasants. This is no doubt that his own humble beginnings allowed him a unique understanding of their trials in everyday life.[5] His work covers many important events of the fourteenth century including, The Black Plague, the The Hundred Years' War and The Peasant's War. He had a master in theology from the University of Paris and spent a great deal of his time promoting study among the younger members of the Carmelite Order, and he gathered information on the earlier history of the Carmelite Order going all the way back to Elijah, its Founder. Venette regarded ignorance as the cause of many of the problems of his time, including the Black Death.[6]
The Black Plague, the Black Death, or the Plague refers to the devasting disease which first appeared in Europe in 1348. Where it originated from is still debated but Venette attributes its origin to the "unbelievers" where it then traveled to Florence when ships of dead and sick shipmen landed there and then quickly spread to Paris and surrounding areas. According to de Venette and others, within a short time, over 500 dead per day were being buried. It lasted approximately one year. While Jean writes how many "timid" priests did not do their religious duty to visit the dying and administer the Last Sacraments, he also states that the Sisters of the Hôtel-Dieu ... who, not fearing to die, nursed the sick in all sweetness and humility and many of them died themselves.[7]
Jean vividly describes several battles of the Hundred Years' War such as the Battle of Crecy, the seige of Calais and the Battle of Poitiers.
De Venette is known as a child of the people, and until later in his life, he acknowledged the power of the monarchy. He does not, however, hesitate to criticise the nobles for their failure to protect the people, particularly after the Battle of Poitiers in 1356 at which time the King of France and his son were taken hostage and held for an enormous ransom and many of the "Companies" were ravaging the different towns and cities, pillaging and raping. Of that time he states: "...Thus discord and all three estates abandoned the task they had begun. From that time on, all went ill with the kingdom and the State was undone. Thieves and robbers rose up everywhere in the land. The Nobles despised and hated all others and took no thought for usefulness and profit of lord and men. They subjected and despoiled the peasants and the men of the villages. In no wise did they defend their country from it's enemies; rather did they trample it underfoot, robbing and pillaging the peasants' goods. The regent, it appeared, clearly gave no thought to their plight. At that time the country and the whole land of France began to put in confusion and mourning like a garment, because it had no defender or guardian..." .[8]
Jean de Venette also speaks about the Peasant’s War (part of the Hundred Years' War) in France. In one particular account, he tells of how a ragtag group of French peasants, led by Guillaume l'Aloue defeated the English in several skirmishes due to the actions of an incredibly strong peasant-turned warrior named Grandferre. It was said that Grandferre singlehandedly killed more than twenty-five English soldiers before finally succumbing to a terrible fever. After the capture of the French King John II, Froissart's bon roi Jean "John the Good" by the English during the Battle of Poitiers in September 1356, power in France devolved fruitlessly among the States General, Charles the Bad, King of Navarre, and John's son, the Dauphin, later Charles V. However, the Estates General was too divided to provide effective government and the disputes between the two rulers provoked disunity amongst the nobles. Consequently the prestige of the French nobility – which had begun the century at Courtrai (the "Battle of the Golden Spurs") by fleeing the field and leaving their infantry to be hacked to pieces, and had given up their king at Poitiers – had sunk to a new low. To secure their rights, the French privileged classes, the nobility, the merchant elite, and the clergy, forced the peasantry to pay ever-increasing taxes (for example, the taille) and to repair their war-damaged properties under corvée— without compensation. The passage of a law that required the peasants to defend the châteaux that were emblems of their oppression was the immediate cause of the spontaneous uprising;[9] it was particularly onerous as many common people already blamed the nobility's corruption for the defeat at Poitiers. The chronicle of Jean de Venette articulates the perceived problems between the nobility and the peasants, yet some historians, Samuel K. Cohn being one of them, see the Jacquerie revolts as a reaction to a combination of short and long-term effects dating as early as the grain crisis and famine of 1315.[6] [10]
Venette first and foremost followed the teachings of the Pope. No matter who the person or what the circumstances, he did not deviate from his religious beliefs and criticised anyone who was Excommunicate or otherwise not following the teachings of God. As did others in his time, Venette combines his religious belief with astronomical events. He quotes and agrees with the interpretation of of Master Jean de Murs and others made before and during this time but it is clear that he, (as did other monastic chroniclers and monastic astronomers) attribute these signs as a "warning" from God that punishment was coming for Man's sinful nature. [11] In 1340, he speaks of a comet that appeared in that year. Another comet, still unidentified, was said to appear in August of 1348 which Venette himself sees. [12]This comet is also mentioned by Augustine of Trent, a friar eremite of St. Augustine who, in his writings, sees the later one as a warning of the disease and pestilence of disease happening in Italy, and blames the physicians' for their ignorance of astronomy. Due to his many references in the Chronicle, it is almost certain that de Venette agreed with Augustine.[13][14] Venette also refers to passages from the Book of Revelations to try to understand and explain the chaos in and around him. Book of Revelations.
The Chronicle is a narrative of several historical events spanning the years of 1340 and 1368, written as early as 1340, until Jean de Venette’s death at or soon after the year 1368. When it was first published in the Spicilegium, vol. 3, it was published with another chronicle by William of Nangis. The Chronicle was later translated into English by Jean Birdsall, and was published under the same title in 1953. As many of the portions were recorded contemporaneously [15] and in a chronological fashion, it gives a very reliable first hand account of several historical events. A copy is in the form of a Manuscript on vellum from the mid-fifteenth century, containing 232 pages written in letters in columns. The titles are in red, and the letters painted in gold & turners in color. It is decorated with seven miniatures that are in monochrome gray.[16]
The Chronicle begins in the year 1340 at which time Jean de Venette talks about the revelations of a (unnamed) priest who was held prisoner by the Saracens for 13 years and freed in 1309 who foretold of a vison of a great famine which would occur in 1315 and other horrible things which were to happen thereafter. Venette states that he was seven or eight in this year and indeed the famine did occur exactly as predicted and lasted two years. He then tells the background of the fight for the crown of France after the death of Philip the Fair and the claims of Edward I of England to that throne, thus describing the background to the beginning of the Hundred Years War. His history is detailed and precise. He also describes the Battle of Crecy in 1356, The Peasant's War, and the seige of Calais, again with great detail. Mugginsx (talk) 11:31, 18 December 2011 (UTC)
The Three Marys or Maries is a long poem written circa 1357 by Jean de Venette. It is still unpublished. [17] The three Marys spoken of are: Mary, Mother of Our Lord, Mary Cleophas and Mary Salome of St. Palaye. [16] [18]