Au coeur de l’Europe: Littérature à la cour de Hainaut-Hollande (1250-1350)

Abstract

After the unification, in 1299, of the counties of Holland, Zeeland and Hainaut in a personal union, these regions acquired a primarily French-speaking court. More than their predecessors, the Counts of Hainaut-Holland played a significant role on the European political and cultural scene. This thesis comprises ten studies on the library of the Avesnes and their part in international literary culture between 1250 and 1350. A contribution on the education, careers and involvement in literature of the many sons of Alix (or Aleide) van Holland, tutrix of Floris V of Holland, is followed by studies on the text and context of the ‘wedding gift manuscript’ for Edward III and Philippa of Hainaut (BNF français 571) and on the role of Countess Jeanne de Valois as patroness and reader of literature. A passage in a French chronicle on witchcraft and politics at the Court of Hainaut sheds new light on the international trade in wooden polychrome copies of the famous sculptures of the Princeps mundi and Frau Welt decorating Rhineland cathedrals.The fascination of the Avesnes for Alexander the Great proves to be a recurring theme, running from Maerlant’s Alexanders Geesten, via the Voeux-Restor-Parfait du paon, the Nine Worthies and Perceforest, to Machaut’s Dit du lyon.