Philippe de Mézières
Philippe de Mézières, born around 1327 in Picardy, France, was a notable figure of the lesser nobility who emerged as a soldier and crusader. His military career began in Lombardy under Lucchino Visconti and later included service for Andrew of Naples. Mézières participated in a Crusade to the Holy Land in 1345 and was knighted the following year. He expressed a desire to create a new order of knights, inspired by the discipline of the Saracen forces, and he found support for this vision from figures like Peter of Lusignan, the king of Cyprus and Jerusalem. Throughout his life, Mézières sought to rally European support for additional crusades, though with limited success. He held various roles, including chancellor under Peter of Cyprus and counselor to Charles V of France. His writings, which include a biography of Peter Thomas and allegorical works advocating for the Crusades, contribute significantly to the historical record of the period. Mézières passed away on May 29, 1405, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the military and religious aspirations of his time.
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Philippe de Mézières
Armed Forces Personnel
- Born: c. 1327
- Birthplace: Château of Mézières, Picardy, France
- Died: May 29, 1405
Biography
Philippe de Mézières ( Maizières) was born in Picardy, France, at the château of Mézières around 1327. A member of the lesser nobility, he soon began a career as a soldier. His first service was in the army of Lucchino Visconti in Lombardy. Less than a year later, he was soldiering for Andrew of Naples.
In 1345, Mézières joined the French forces on a Crusade to the Holy Land under Humbert II. In 1346, Mézières was knighted. Convinced that the Saracen forces were superior to the French because of the discipline imposed on their soldiers, he wished to found a new order of knights incorporating much of what he had observed in the Saracen armies. In Cyprus at the court of Hugh IV, Mézières made the acquaintance of Hugh’s son, Peter of Lusignan, who shared much of his enthusiasm about a new order of knights.
Continuing to earn his living as a soldier, he soon left Cyprus. Upon his return in 1360, Peter, who had become king of Cyprus and Jerusalem, appointed him chancellor. At this time, he also met the legate Peter Thomas. Mezières became a very close friend of Peter Thomas and wrote his biography. Mezières also made the acquaintance of Thomas (patriarch of Constantinople in 1364), who was one of the main supporters of the Crusade of 1365.
Mezières, along with Peter Thomas and Peter of Cyprus, traveled to the courts of Western Europe to gain support for the crusade. In 1366, Mezières was again in Western Europe as Peter of Cyprus’s agent. He attempted to gain support for a crusade against the Saracens, but had little success. Mezières stayed in Avignon. Still hoping to found a new order of knights, he devoted himself to seeking recruits for his order. He also wrote his biography of Peter Thomas, the Vita Sancti Petri Thomasii.
From 1368 to 1372, Mezières was again at the court of Cyprus. In 1372, he was back in Avignon. He translated the office of the Presentation of the Virgin from Greek into Latin and tried to establish it as a feast day in Europe. In 1373, he went to Paris to become a counselor to Charles V and tutor to his son. Upon the death of Charles V, he retired to the Convent of the Celestines in Paris, but remained influential in public affairs. During this time, he wrote most of his works, including his two devotional treatises. In 1389, he wrote a long allegory Le Songe du vieil pelerin, which advocated the Crusade, as did his autobiographical Oratio tragedica. His last work, Epistre lamentable, described the knightly order he wished to establish.
He died on May 29, 1405. In his writings, Mezières left a record of the history of the Crusades. His biography of Peter Thomas is an especially valuable contribution to the history of the expedition to Alexandria.