Criticism of the Ruler, 1100-1400, in Provencal, old French, and Middle English Verse

Description

My dissertation is a study of the criticism of rulers in short medieval poems from 1100 to 1400 in Provencal, Old French, Anglo-Norman, and Middle English. Five chapters make up the body of the dissertation: “Marcabru and the Ruler as Sinner," "The Sluggish King: Bertran de Born’s Criticism of Royal Passivity,” “Rutebeuf and the Friar-King: Reactions to Louis IX's Piety," “Eustache Deschamps and the Infant King," “The Ruler as Oppressor in Middle English and Anglo-Norman Verse." This last chapter is an analysis of seven poems, all previously published by Thomas Wright, including the Anglo-Norman "Vows of the Heron” and the Middle English poem known as "Mum and the Sothsegger" or “Richard the Redeless."” I have analyzed each poet's work or each anonymous poem with respect to three contexts: the contemporary social ami political situation, traditional ideals of kingship, and literary traditions. Judging from historical allusions in the poems, I have explained as specifically as possible the historical context of each poen, the poet’s partisan sympathies or probable patronage relationships, and the audience for which the poem was written. In a number of cases, I have suggested dates for hitherto undated poems as well as definitions of the poets’ partisan sympathies, or I have contested previous scholarly opinions on these subjects. I have explained how and why the topics of criticism of the ruler, which are usually conventional rhetorical topoi, differ from the actual issues behind discontent with the ruler, as known from contemporary political documents and chronicle sources; and in tha case of British verse, I have suggested reasons for the closer correspondance between contemporary political and poetic topics of criticism of the ruler. After identifying traditional Christian and feudal/heroic ideals of royal behavior, I have examined how and why poets use these ideals as the basis for their criticism in addition to or instead of more specific criticism of the rulers’ political actions. The final section of each chapter is devoted to a detailed analysis of literary techniques used for criticizing the ruler in verse, especially techniques used to bolster the critic's authority (through the traditional associations of personae such as the prophet, priest, or tutor) and to insinuate criticism (through figurative representations of the ruler, irony, derogatory historical allusions, puns, denigrating comparisons, unflattering rhymes). For the reader's convenience, I have translated all quotations of Provengal verse in these sections. The conclusion of my dissertation will try to define the general trend of medieval criticism of rulers, including aspects of continuity and change, and to account for this in terms of the broader socio-economic, political, and ideological changes of the period.