Pizan’s Patrons

Six people who enabled Pizan’s brilliant writing career

John, Duke of Berry 1340-1416

John, a brother of King Charles V, received the first manuscript of Le Livre Du Chemine De Long Estude, a dream allegory with political and philosophical themes. She also dedicated her L’épistre De La Prison De Vie Humaine to his daughter Marie, Duchess of Bourbon, whose husband had been captured by the English following the Battle of Agincourt.

King Henry IV of England 1367 -1413

Just like his predecessor King Richard II, Henry tried to persuade Pizan to move to England and become his court poet, a testament to her talent and reputation. Although she refused his offer, we know that she presented the king with an edition of L’épistre De Othéa A Hector, one of her most popular works, in 1404.

Isabeau of Bavaria, Queen of France c.1370-1435

Queen Isabeau is arguably Pizan’s most famous patron. With Isabeau acting as regent and Pizan becoming a professional author, these two women held unprecedented positions in medieval France. In 1414, Christine produced The Book Of The Queen, her largest manuscript containing a collection of her work, which she dedicated and presented to Isabeau.

John the Fearless 1371–1419

John gave Pizan several payments for her books and he notably paid her to finish the biography of his uncle, King Charles V, which his father Philip the Bold had commissioned before his death. Pizan also dedicated The Treasure Of The City Of Ladies to John’s daughter, Margaret, Dauphine of France.

Louis I, Duke of Orléans 1372–1407

The son of King Charles V and brother of King Charles VI, Louis was one of the members of the French court who took an interest in Pizan’s early romantic ballads. She dedicated the first edition of her L’épistre De Othéa A Hector to Louis and he supported her literary career right up until his murder in 1407.

Thomas Montagu, 4th Earl of Salisbury 1388–1428

Both the earl and his father, John Montagu, were supporters of Pizan and her work. It is known that he offered her a different form of patronage by taking her young son, Jean, to England and giving him a place in his household. King Henry IV would later move Jean to his own household in an attempt to persuade Pizan to move to England.