Oton de Grandson
Oton de Grandson was a notable figure from the 14th century, born around 1340 in Savoy, now part of Switzerland. He was the son of Guillaume de Grandson, a prominent lord, and his upbringing reflected the wealth and status of his family. Grandson served as a knight in England from 1372 to 1386 before returning to Savoy, where he faced dramatic turns of fortune. After being accused of the poisoning of Adémée VII, he was forced to flee to England, only to be cleared of the charges and return to his homeland. However, he was again embroiled in allegations of murder, leading to his death in a judicial duel on August 7, 1397.
Apart from his military endeavors, Grandson was also an accomplished poet, known for his Valentine's Day poems that challenged traditional notions of courtly love. He proposed a fresh perspective on romance, advocating for a lover to select a new beloved each year, rather than remaining indefinitely devoted to one lady. His works earned him recognition as a significant literary figure of his time, with some scholars considering him the most important poet of noble birth in the latter half of the 14th century. His friendship with the famed English poet Geoffrey Chaucer further highlights his influence and connections in the literary world of medieval Europe.
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Oton de Grandson
Poet
- Born: c. 1340
- Birthplace: Savoy (now Vaud, Switzerland)
- Died: August 7, 1397
- Place of death: Bourg-en-Bresse, France
Biography
Oton de Grandson was born around 1340 in Savoy, an independent country that is now the canton of Vaud, Switzerland. He was the son of Guillaume de Grandson, lord of Sainte-Croix, Grandcour Coudrefin Bellerive, and Aubonne. His mother, Jeanne, was a daughter of Humbert Allamand. Grandson’s father had enjoyed a very successful career at the court of Adémée VI and amassed considerable land holdings and other wealth.
A knight like his father, Grandson spent the years from 1372 to 1386 in the service of England. After the death of his father he returned to his birthplace. Shortly thereafter, Adémée VII died of poisoning and Grandson was accused of his murder. All of his wealth was seized and he fled back to England in 1392. By 1396, he had been cleared of the crime; his wealth was returned to him and he went back to Sainte Croix.
However, his prosperity was not to last. He was once again accused of murdering Adémée VII and was sentenced to a judicial duel, in which he had to fight his accuser. He died in the duel on August 7, 1397.
In addition to being a knight, Grandson was a very talented and important poet of his time and was a friend of English poet Geoffrey Chaucer. Grandson is most famous for his Valentine’s Day poems; because of these poems, he became the model of the melancholy lover, dressed in black. The Valentine’s Day poems proposed an attitude about love that was the antithesis of courtly love, which required the lover’s total and everlasting loyalty to his lady. Instead, Grandson’s poems instructed the lover to choose a different lady as the object of his love each Valentine’s Day. Many scholars consider him to be the most important poet of noble birth of the second half of the fourteenth century.