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Chronology of the Life and Times of Chaucer

Date Event

1321 Death of Dante Alighieri.

1340 Boccaccio's Filocolo

1340 Birth of Eustache Deschamps, French poet.

1341 Boccaccio's Tesseida delle Nozze d'Emilia.

1340-45 Birth of Chaucer

1346 English victory at Crecy; see Jean Froissart, on the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).

1348-49 The Black Death; see the chilling description of the Plague in Boccaccio's Decameron, the introduction to the First Day.

1356 English victory at Poitiers; 1346 English victory at Crecy; see Jean Froissart.

1357 Chaucer a page in the household of the Countess of Ulster

1359-60 Chaucer serves in the war in France.

1360 Chaucer, captured by the French, is ransomed (for 16 pounds).

1360 Peace with France, Treaty of Bretigny.

1361 Severe recurrence of the Plague.

1360's Langland's Piers Plowman (The "A text.").

1361-67 Jean Froissart serves in household of Queen Phillippa.

1365-66 Chaucer marries Philippa, who serves in the Queen's household.

1366 Chaucer travels to Spain.

1367 Birth of Chaucer's son, Thomas.

1367 A "valettus" in the court of Edward III; granted a payment of 20 pounds per annum for life.

1369 A squire in the Royal household. [probably; styled a "king's esquire in 1372."]

1368 Travels to the continent (France probably) on "the King's service."

1368 Birth of Thomas Hoccleve, who wrote poems as a "disciple" of Chaucer

1368-72 Chaucer writes "Fragment A" of the Romaunt of the Rose, The Book of the Duchess, probably a good many lyrics in French and English, now lost, and such lyrics as The Complaint unto Pity and The Complaint to His Lady.

1369 Chaucer serves with John of Gaunt's army in France.

1370 Birth of John Lydgate, admirer and imitator of Chaucer.

1370 Chaucer again serves with the army in France.

1372 Chaucer's wife Philippa in the household of John of Gaunt's wife.

1372 Travels to Italy (Genoa and Florence) on a diplomatic mission.

1374 Death of Petrarch.

1374 Appointed Controller of the Customs; granted a lease on a dwelling over Aldgate.

1375 Death of Boccaccio.

1375 Chaucer and Otho de Graunson (French knight and poet on whose poems Chaucer drew for his "Complaint of Venus") both recieve grants from John of Gaunt.

1376-77 Several trips to France, negotiating for peace and the marriage of Richard.

1377 Richard II becomes king.

1377 Pope Gregory XI condemns doctrines of John Wycliffe; lollard movement grows.

1378 The "Great Schism" -- rival Popes in Rome (Urban) and Avignon (Clement); See Deliberations of the University of Paris

1378 Travels to Italy (Milan) on diplomatic mission.

1378 John Gower and Richard Forester have Chaucer's power of attorney while he travels abroad.

Late 1370's Saint Cecelia (possibly later); The House of Fame, Anelida and Arcite.

1380 Cecily Chaumpaigne signs a document releasing Chaucer from all actions in "the case of my rape" ("de raptu meo").

1380 Birth of Chaucer's second son, Lewis.

1380 The Parliament of Fowls.

1381 The Peasants' Revolt; see the accounts on Gray's Scalacronica and the Anonimalle Chronicle.

1381 Death of Chaucer's mother.

1382 Controllorship of the customs renewed, with permission to have a deputy.

1380-86 Boece, Troilus and Criseyede.

1385 Chaucer granted a permanent deputy in the Customs.

1385 Eustache Deschamps sends Chaucer a poem of praise, hailing him as "great translator, noble Geoffrey Chaucer."

1385-87 "Palamoun and Arcite" (later used as The Knight's Tale); " The Legend of Good Women (though some parts earlier and the prologue later revised).

1385-89 Justice of peace for Kent.

1386 Gives up house in Aldgate; resigns from customs.

1386 Member of Parliament for Kent (where he now probably lives).

1386-87 Praised as a poet of Love and Philosophy by Thomas Usk, a younger contemporary.

1387-90 John Gower's Confessio amantis.

1387-92 Begins The Canterbury Tales.

1388 Some of Richard's closest supporters removed by the Lords Appellant; some (including Thomas Usk, an admirer and imitator of Chaucer, are executed.

1389 Appointed Clerk of the Works at Westminster, Tower of London, and other royal estates.

1390 As Clerk of the works, has scaffolds built for jousts in Smithfield.

1390 Robbed of horse, goods, 20 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence at Hatcham, Surrey.

1391 Robbed of 10 pounds at Westminster and of 9 pounds, 43 pence, at Hatcham.

1391-92 The Treatise of the Astrolabe (with additions 1393 and later).

1392-95 Most of The Canterbury Tales, including probably "The Marriage Group."

1396 Envoy to Bukton, in which he is urged to read "The Wife of Bath."

1396-1400 The latest of the Tales, including probably The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's tale (though part is probably earlier), and the Parson's Tale and several short poems, including Scogan, Bukton, and the Complaint to His Purse.

1397 Granted a tun of wine a year.

1399 Richard II deposed; Henry IV becomes king.

1399 Leases a tenement, for 53 years, in the garden of the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

1400 "The Complaint of Chaucer to His Purse."

1400
25 Oct Chaucer's Death.

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Date	Event
1321	Death of Dante Alighieri.
1340	Boccaccio's Filocolo
1340	Birth of Eustache Deschamps, French poet.
1341	Boccaccio's Tesseida delle Nozze d'Emilia.
1340-45	Birth of Chaucer
1346	English victory at Crecy; see Jean Froissart, on the Hundred Years War (1337-1453).
1348-49	The Black Death; see the chilling description of the Plague in Boccaccio's Decameron, the introduction to the First Day.
1356	English victory at Poitiers; 1346 English victory at Crecy; see Jean Froissart.
1357	Chaucer a page in the household of the Countess of Ulster
1359-60	Chaucer serves in the war in France.
1360	Chaucer, captured by the French, is ransomed (for 16 pounds).
1360	Peace with France, Treaty of Bretigny.
1361	Severe recurrence of the Plague.
1360's	Langland's Piers Plowman (The "A text.").
1361-67	Jean Froissart serves in household of Queen Phillippa.
1365-66	Chaucer marries Philippa, who serves in the Queen's household.
1366	Chaucer travels to Spain.
1367	Birth of Chaucer's son, Thomas.
1367	A "valettus" in the court of Edward III; granted a payment of 20 pounds per annum for life.
1369	A squire in the Royal household. [probably; styled a "king's esquire in 1372."]
1368	Travels to the continent (France probably) on "the King's service."
1368	Birth of Thomas Hoccleve, who wrote poems as a "disciple" of Chaucer
1368-72	Chaucer writes "Fragment A" of the Romaunt of the Rose, The Book of the Duchess, probably a good many lyrics in French and English, now lost, and such lyrics as The Complaint unto Pity and The Complaint to His Lady.
1369	Chaucer serves with John of Gaunt's army in France.
1370	Birth of John Lydgate, admirer and imitator of Chaucer.
1370	Chaucer again serves with the army in France.
1372	Chaucer's wife Philippa in the household of John of Gaunt's wife.
1372	Travels to Italy (Genoa and Florence) on a diplomatic mission.
1374	Death of Petrarch.
1374	Appointed Controller of the Customs; granted a lease on a dwelling over Aldgate.
1375	Death of Boccaccio.
1375	Chaucer and Otho de Graunson (French knight and poet on whose poems Chaucer drew for his "Complaint of Venus") both recieve grants from John of Gaunt.
1376-77	Several trips to France, negotiating for peace and the marriage of Richard.
1377	Richard II becomes king.
1377	Pope Gregory XI condemns doctrines of John Wycliffe; lollard movement grows.
1378	The "Great Schism" -- rival Popes in Rome (Urban) and Avignon (Clement); See Deliberations of the University of Paris
1378	Travels to Italy (Milan) on diplomatic mission.
1378	John Gower and Richard Forester have Chaucer's power of attorney while he travels abroad.
Late 1370's	Saint Cecelia (possibly later); The House of Fame, Anelida and Arcite.
1380	Cecily Chaumpaigne signs a document releasing Chaucer from all actions in "the case of my rape" ("de raptu meo").
1380	Birth of Chaucer's second son, Lewis.
1380	The Parliament of Fowls.
1381	The Peasants' Revolt; see the accounts on Gray's Scalacronica and the Anonimalle Chronicle.
1381	Death of Chaucer's mother.
1382	Controllorship of the customs renewed, with permission to have a deputy.
1380-86	Boece, Troilus and Criseyede.
1385	Chaucer granted a permanent deputy in the Customs.
1385	Eustache Deschamps sends Chaucer a poem of praise, hailing him as "great translator, noble Geoffrey Chaucer."
1385-87	"Palamoun and Arcite" (later used as The Knight's Tale); " The Legend of Good Women (though some parts earlier and the prologue later revised).
1385-89	Justice of peace for Kent.
1386	Gives up house in Aldgate; resigns from customs.
1386	Member of Parliament for Kent (where he now probably lives).
1386-87	Praised as a poet of Love and Philosophy by Thomas Usk, a younger contemporary.
1387-90	John Gower's Confessio amantis.
1387-92	Begins The Canterbury Tales.
1388	Some of Richard's closest supporters removed by the Lords Appellant; some (including Thomas Usk, an admirer and imitator of Chaucer, are executed.
1389	Appointed Clerk of the Works at Westminster, Tower of London, and other royal estates.
1390	As Clerk of the works, has scaffolds built for jousts in Smithfield.
1390	Robbed of horse, goods, 20 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence at Hatcham, Surrey.
1391	Robbed of 10 pounds at Westminster and of 9 pounds, 43 pence, at Hatcham.
1391-92	The Treatise of the Astrolabe (with additions 1393 and later).
1392-95	Most of The Canterbury Tales, including probably "The Marriage Group."
1396	Envoy to Bukton, in which he is urged to read "The Wife of Bath."
1396-1400	The latest of the Tales, including probably The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's tale (though part is probably earlier), and the Parson's Tale and several short poems, including Scogan, Bukton, and the Complaint to His Purse.
1397	Granted a tun of wine a year.
1399	Richard II deposed; Henry IV becomes king.
1399	Leases a tenement, for 53 years, in the garden of the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey.
1400	"The Complaint of Chaucer to His Purse."
1400 25 Oct	Chaucer's Death.