12 JUN 2024 · Geoffrey Chaucer was born around 1343 in London, England to John and Agnes Chaucer. His exact birth date is unknown. His father, John Chaucer, was a prosperous wine merchant and deputy to the king's butler. This brought Geoffrey into close contact with the high aristocratic society of England. As the son of a public servant and merchant, his early childhood allowed him to study at one of the eminent London schools although the exact one remains a mystery. In 1357, when Chaucer was still in his early teens, Elizabeth de Burgh came to London and married Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence. Lionel was the second son of King Edward III and Elizabeth de Burgh’s third husband. As one of herofficial courtiers, Chaucer came into direct contact with the royalty and nobility of England for the first time. A few months later in 1359 Chaucer traveled with Lionel to France during Edward III’s military campaign in the early stages of the Hundred Years War. While the teenage Chaucer likely performed mostly clerical work on this campaign, he may have also seen his first battles in either Reims or Paris. Later on in 1369, Chaucer made another trip to France on a military mission. This saw him travel to different places like Genoa and Florence in Italy. Scholars speculate Chaucer began writing poetry while traveling abroad on one of these early missions. On September 20, 1366, when Chaucer was in his early 20s, Edward III of England granted him an annual allowance of 20 marks for life (roughly equivalent to £15,000 in today’s money) as thanks for his past and future services. Some scholars speculate Chaucer performed an intelligence or diplomatic role. From then on, his career and income increasingly relied on royal favor and service. Around 1367, Chaucer married Philippa Roet, who was probably lady-in-waiting to Edward III’s queen. Chronicler Jean Froissart described Philippa as well educated, beautiful and skillful in courtly amusements. As a member of the court circle, Philippa provided Geoffrey social status and connections. In 1368 Chaucer worked as a diplomatic envoy in Milan, Italy perhaps to negotiate a marriage between the Milanese Visconti family and some English nobles. He likely helped establish the relationship with Bernabò Visconti who married Edward III’s daughter, Violante and later unsuccessfully claimed the English throne. During his time in Italy, Chaucer may have become familiar with the works of Dante and Petrarch whose poetry and stories profoundly influenced Chaucer’s later writing style. From around 1370 to 1378 records show Chaucer living in Kent, probably focusing on writing, traveling between London, Calais, and Flanders at least once conducting diplomatic work. As a public servant and writer his repute and wealth were growing. In 1374, Chaucer was appointed as Custos for the Port of London- perhaps a lucrative position collecting import duties and controlling goods in and out of England's largest city. By 1378 Chaucer had written Book of the Duchess, Parliament of Fowls, House of Fame and other minor poems. During this time his style was still heavily influenced by French and Italian verse before developing his own unique English rhythms and phrasings. Richard II acceded to the throne in 1377 starting a period of rampant court corruption as the aristocracy battled for power and influence. In 1378 Chaucer traveled to Lombardy again, this time for a secret operation to hire mercenaries for a war in Castile. Later on scholars have speculated that during these times away from England, Chaucer became involved in international intrigue and information gathering for the English crown. Over the course of his diplomatic missions to France, Spain, and Italy, he likely discreetly reported events, rumors and minute details of life at foreign courts back to the English king. Throughout the 1380s, Chaucer worked in several comptrollership and customs positions for the port of London which guaranteed a comfortable income. His wife Philippa also received frequents patronages in court and an annuity as her sister Katherine Swynford was governess to John of Gaunt’s children by his first wife Blanche of Lancaster. John of Gaunt was King Edward III’s third son and most powerful nobleman of the era. Philippa’s deep royal connections assured Geoffrey's career and status regardless of external political turmoil. In addition to customs official and courtier, Chaucer also served as knight of the shire (MP) for Kent for a short period in 1386. He continued receiving special temporary government commissions requiring discretion and loyalty. While Chaucer’s career thrived during the late 1380s, so did his writing. He traveled to France and Italy at least twice on diplomatic missions probably collecting details and observations of distant courts and lands rarely seen by medieval Englishmen. At home he was likely working on Troilus and Criseyde set against backdrop of the ancient Trojan War but probably also subtly referencing contemporary society and politics. As a philosopher and poet using the razor sharp insights of an explorer, spy and diplomat; Chaucer assembled his masterpiece- The Canterbury Tales. These stories delicately revealed the innate corruption, depravity and contradictions of every social class in England from the valorous Knight and saintly Parson to the vulgar Miller and scheming Summoner. Behind the veil of fiction lay piercing truths about the current ruling classes and institutional hypocrisy which few besides Chaucer dared disclose. His close ties to John of Gaunt’s regime and the London bureaucratic elite gave him unique insider perspectives of the government’s greed and immorality. In 1391 records of Philippa Chaucer end and she is presumed dead. As both their fathers had worked in court, Geoffrey and Philippa enjoyed a close relationship with nobility which greatly impacted his writings. After her death and John of Gaunt’s declining influence, Chaucer’s elite insider ties diminished somewhat. This was reflected in The Canterbury Tales where Chaucer increasingly self-censored to avoid crossing powerful interest groups like religious clergy. In 1394 King Richard II granted Chaucer a tun of wine annually - meaning 252 gallons delivered tax free! Nonetheless two years later Richard II was dethroned by Henry IV, son of Chaucer’s old mentor John of Gaunt who had recently died. Now the political landscape transformed with many former allies fading away, the wise Chaucer retreated somewhat from public view and travel possibly focusing more on writing. Historians believe during this late period he extensively revised and expanded upon earlier works that would posthumously culminate as his Canterbury Tales masterpiece. Away from the recurse courts and power brokers, Geoffrey’s independent views become more strident such as freely criticizing church corruption. In 1399 documents show Chaucer lease a property in Westminster where he furnishes a vivid and beautiful Astrological Clock. As an early precursor to science fiction featuring a mechanical man plus active depictions of the planetary spheres; the imaginative clock reflected Geoffrey’s visionary and futurist perspectives. These last years Chaucer devoted himself to groundbreaking writings established him as the father of English literature. His pioneering decision to write popular stories in English instead of French or Latin broke convention opening literature and poetry to vastly great new audiences at home instead of just noble courts abroad. Though Chaucer wrote prolifically little remains of his corpus besides a few early poems, Troilus and Criseyde and the unfinished Canterbury Tales. Near the end of his life, records are mostly silent about Chaucer the person and bureaucrat yet his transformative impact on English fiction, poetry and popular culture continues today. In October 1400, Geofffrey Chaucer passed away in London still working upon his stories with long term impact unforeseen in medieval England. He was buried in Westminster Abbey recognizing his public service and surpassing imagination. Just the common son of merchant and courtier, Chaucer's work overcame countless obstacles still effecting English literature, identity and arts to the present day. Nearly destitute as he wrote his classic poetry, Chaucer received a presence or payment here and there. Yet, his words live on far beyond any metal or riches. By opening fiction and criticism to