FROISSART'S CHRONICLES

John Froissart's contemporary account of life in 14th Century Europe. (Joliffe translation.)

Six hundred years later, the Chronicles are a surprisingly readable account of events in Western Europe and Hungary from 1306 to 1399. Froissart sets down the notable events of - as Barbara Tuchman called it - the 'calamitous' 14th Century. To his credit (and unlike so many historians from the Dark Ages), Froissart followed the path of Herodotus and actually researched his history and, when available, even collected first hand accounts. While not 100% correct in his history - particularly when it comes to battle casualties - the Chronicles have stood the test of time as a creditable historical document. Moreover, Froissart's work is surprisingly lacking in religious polemic, being surprisingly balanced while describing the events of the Papal Schism and the disastrous Hungarian march on Adrianople. Froissart's fault, such as it is, lies in the fact that he is uncritical of the dramatis personae - all knights are good and valiant, and form wondrous feats. He is less polite when talking about the Germans and the Scots, however, of whom he has very little good to say. Probably unwittingly to Froissart at the time, what his Chronicle does show is the never-ceasing fight for fighting's sake that gripped the kingdoms Western Europe - despite their incredibly tortuous and intertwined family trees. The tale of march, countermarch, devastation of the countryside and reduction of fortresses - together with the inevitable peasant uprisings and revolts - show just how fragile civilisation had become. For anyone who takes progress for granted, reading the Chronicles will come as something of a shock.