Historical Figures

Christine de Pizan, the first French woman of letters

Considered to be the first French woman to have lived from her pen, Christine de Pizan was a writer, poet and philosopher of the Middle Ages.

A very advanced education

Christine de Pizan was born around 1364 in Italy. Her father is a doctor and a lecturer in astrology at the University of Bologna, the oldest university in Europe.

When Christine was four years old, her father was called to Paris, to the court of Charles V. There, she received an education as a young noble girl, learning music, Latin, poetry, reading works of philosophy, history or religion. She received a more in-depth education than most young girls at court, certainly encouraged by her father who noted Christine's great intelligence. At court, she began to compose lyrical pieces which were greatly admired.

Young widow

When Christine was 15, her father gave her in marriage to Etienne de Castel, the king's notary. The marriage seems happy and Christine and Etienne will have three children. In 1380, King Charles V died and Thomas de Pisan was removed from court. He died in 1387 without leaving any savings to his family. And in 1390, Etienne de Castel died of an epidemic. At 26, Christine finds herself a widow, with three dependent children, a mother and a niece.

Choosing not to remarry, she embarks on the profession of woman of letters and tries to reorganize her fortune. For 14 years, she experienced difficult times, between financial worries, lawsuits and health problems. During the first years, Christine strived to complete her education and culture, as well as to maintain her connections at court.

Best Selling Writer

After the death of her husband, Christine de Pizan composed lyrical pieces collected in Le Livre des Cent Ballades, in which she evokes her mourning and her life as a woman at court. Thanks to the success of this work, she obtained orders and the support of the powerful, and began to write scholarly, philosophical and political works. She opposes the representation of women in the famous Roman de la Rose by Jean de Meung. Great philosophers of her time join her in her stubborn fight.

From 1399 to 1418, Christine produced a considerable body of work; unlike many authors, she enjoyed success during her lifetime. She writes a lot of poetry but also teaching, pedagogy, treatises on social, political and moral reflection.

In 1418, the political context forced her to find refuge in a convent to avoid the Burgundian terror, where she remained until the end of her life. In 1429, after Joan of Arc's first victories against the English, Christine de Pizan wrote Le Ditié de Jeanne d'Arc to show him respect. She dies shortly afterwards.