Sixty-five surviving manuscripts of the translated text Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes offer a definitive measure of the influence exerted by Laurent de Premierfait during the fifteenth century. Operating within the Kingdom of France, he navigated the complex intellectual climate of the late Middle Ages as a poet, philosopher, and the era's primary translator of classical and contemporary Latin works.
Early Life and Academic Formation
Born in 1380 in the village of Premierfait near Troyes, Laurent established himself as a central figure in French humanism. He served as a clerc du diocèse de Troyes and performed professional duties as a secretary-notary to Jean-Allarmet de Brogny, the Cardinal of Saluces. During this formative period, he spent time at the papal court in Avignon, where he engaged with fellow humanists and refined his linguistic expertise in Middle French and medieval Latin.
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Laurent did not produce his translations for the general public, focusing instead on the specialized requirements of wealthy aristocratic patrons. His professional network included high-ranking officials such as Jean Chanteprime, the contrôleur général des finances, and figures like Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège. He also worked under the authority of Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy, and maintained a significant professional relationship with Jean, Duke of Berry, a renowned collector of illuminated manuscripts. His career also involved direct service to King Charles VI.
Linguistic Contributions
Laurent holds the distinction of being the first translator of Giovanni Boccaccio’s works into French. His output included two distinct versions of Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes, the second of which was notably freer in its interpretation. His translation of the Decameron in 1410 was based on a Latin version that he appears to have authored himself. Beyond Boccaccio, he translated foundational texts including Aristotle’s Economics in 1418, Cicero’s De amicitia in 1416 and De senectute in 1405, as well as Seneca’s De quattuor virtutibus.
Death and Historical Legacy
Laurent died in 1418 in Paris at the age of thirty-eight. His death occurred during the Armagnac-Burgundian civil war, a conflict triggered by the 1407 murder of Louis d’Orléans by John the Fearless, Duc de Bourgogne. While the Black Death remained a persistent threat in Europe, historians consider the possibility that Laurent was murdered during the Burgundian invasion of Paris. An authentic portrait of the scholar remains preserved within the illuminations of a manuscript of Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes currently held by the Bibliothèque Nationale.
Fast facts
- Born: 1380, Premierfait
- Died: 1418, Paris
- Citizenship: Kingdom of France
- Primary occupations: Poet, translator, philosopher, humanist
- First Boccaccio translation: 1400
- Notable works: Le livre de vieillesse, Le livre de vraye amistié, Decameron
- Languages used: Medieval Latin, Middle French
Questions readers ask
What was Laurent de Premierfait's primary role in French literature?
He was a leading humanist and the first person to translate the works of Giovanni Boccaccio into the French language.
For whom did Laurent de Premierfait produce his translations?
He worked specifically for elite aristocratic patrons, including Jean, Duke of Berry, and King Charles VI, rather than for the general public.
Achievements
- Notable work: Le livre de vraye amistié
- Notable work: Le livre de vieillesse
- Notable work: Decameron
- Notable work: Des cas des nobles hommes et femmes
