About Geoffrey Chaucer
Fast Facts
Name:
Geoffrey Chaucer
Date of Birth:
c. 1343
Date of Death: October 25, 1400
Famous For:
His literature, The Canterbury Tales
Other pieces of Literature:
The Book of Duchess, Anelida and Arcite, The House of Fame, The Legend of Good Women, Parlement of Foules
Timeline of his Writings
1368: The Book of the Duchess
1368-1372: Translation of The Romance of the Rose
1372-1377: Parts of The Monk's Tale and The Second Nun's Tale
1377-1381: The House of Fame and Anelida and Arcite.
1380: The Parliament of Fowls
1382-1386: Troilus and Criseyde
1386:Starts The Legend of Good Women
1387-1392:Starts The Canterbury Tales
1391-1392: A Treatise on the Astrolabe
1396: The Envoy of Bukton
1396-1400: Writes the latest of The Canterbury Tales
1400: The Complaint of Chaucer to his Purse
Geoffrey Chaucer was born on around circa 1343 in London. His father, John was a London vintner and his mother was Agnes. Geoffrey had no brothers and sisters. Later, in 1399, Chaucer marries Philippa Roet. Together, they had a son, Thomas, in the year 1367. Thirteen year later, they had a second son, Lewis. Then had a daughter, Elizabeth, who later turns into a nun.
Throughout his life, he worked with many royal families. He worked as a courtier, a diplomat, a civil servant twice, Controller of Customs, Justice of the Peace for Kent, Clerk of the King's Works, and Deputy Forester. Chaucer, along with many of his family members were captured and imprisoned. He was captured in France, but luckily got out by King Edward III. Many royal people thought highly of Chaucer. He traveled for them, negotating peace in France and other services. For this, he and his wife had a lifetime annuity from the King. Geoffrey Chaucer worked with many royality such as: King Edward III, Prince Lionel, John of Gaunt, King Henry IV,
He traveled to many places such as France, Spain (1366), Italy. In his later years, Chaucer studied law and became a member of the royal court of Edward III in 1367. He did many incredible things and served his country many times. As his writing shows, he was able to read and talk in French, Latin and Italian.
