ABSTRACT
Early 1340s Geoffrey Chaucer born, probably only son of John and Agnes Chaucer, wine merchants. 1346 Battle of Crécy. 1348 Black Death reaches England. Edward III founds Order of the Garter. 1356 English victory against France at Poitiers. King John of France captured, French court
begins civilised imprisonment in England. 1357 GC a page in the household of the Countess of Ulster, wife of Lionel, son of Edward III. 1359-60 GC member of Prince Lionel’s retinue in France; captured at Reims and ransomed in
March 1360. Returns to France later in 1360. 1362 Parliament opened in English for the first time; English established as official language of
law courts. GC possibly spending time in Inns of Court or Inns of Chancery. 1365/66 GC marries Philippa. 1366 Father dies; mother remarries. GC travels through Navarre. Late 1360s GC translates all or
some of Le Roman de la Rose (The Romaunt of the Rose). 1367 GC, now esquire in the royal household, granted 20 marks annuity. Around this time son,
Thomas, born. 1368 Abroad on King’s service; death of Blanche, wife of John of Gaunt. 1368-72 Somewhere between these dates GC writes The Book of the Duchess. 1369-72 In France several times with John of Gaunt and on military campaigns. 1372-73 Travels to Italy (Genoa and Florence) on diplomatic business. Possible first encounter
with poetry of Dante, Boccaccio and Petrarch. 1374 Granted a gallon of wine per day for life; rent-free life-long lease of property in Aldgate;
is appointed controller of customs and receives £10 annually from John of Gaunt. 1376 Death of Edward, ‘The Black Prince’. 1376-77 In France again on King’s business. 1377 Death of Edward III; Richard II becomes King. First Poll Tax. 1378 The Great Schism: two Popes elected. GC in Milan negotiating with Bernabò Visconti.
