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Christine De Pizan - Coggle Diagram
Christine De Pizan
Themes
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Good monarchy vs tyranny
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Tyrannicide justified – cannot blame the people for rescuing the kingdom (p. 264-265) - Argument for killing Louis d’Oréans: controversial
Liminal figures in government - women, adolescents
Sets up women as being potentially good rulers, even though she accepts the situation of the time
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Letter more designed for public to read rather than for her to read, to present
“mère de Dieu” compares her to virgin Mary, if God is the King of the Cosmos, then the Virgin Mary pleads for the mercy of the people
Elevating womens roles, but not feminists as she doesn’t think women should do the jobs men do just that they could
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• Writing during a period of civil unrest in the early fifteenth century, Christine de Pizan’s political works examine royal power at a crucial period in France’s transition from a feudal state to a centralised monarchy. Her writings in the 'mirror for princes' genre—that is, a practical guide to good government—reveal an understanding of late medieval French society as one in which all members of society are tied together reciprocally, represented by the image of the body politic.
Charles VI
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Had bouts of psychosis, which was called insanity at the time
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Chales V
CDP idealises Charles V, great example of a biblical, classical king, with the right virtues and conduct
Virtue – prudence = root of virtues > justice, magnanimité, force, clemence, liberalité, verité (1, p.207)
King is a public servant, not to serve himself but the public good – just a job
Context
CDP
Well educated, more than most middle class women
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Her work
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• Her work was still very influenced by the broader context of the world in which she was writing eg Joan of Arc
• CDP wrote a lot on the values of sovereignty, and how the monarchy should work
• 2 works are "mirrors for princes"- manuals for good government
• Written for the dauphin- Louis de Guyenne (heir to the throne)- but he died when he was 18 and never took power
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• She always depicts herself the same way- blue dress, wimple, show that she is the same author every time, emphasising that she is female- a medieval version of branding
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Women
Isabeau de Bavière
Isabeau de Bavière - Acted as regent during the king's bouts of insanity
Salic law- no female rulers allowed
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Christine promoted her because she wasn't able to inherit the throne, therefore she is the best placeholder for the power, as she couldn't use power selfishly
Argued that women were not trying to take over the men, but offer a different perspective and be an addition to their work
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Joan of Arc
Christine’s last work, 1429
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Joan emerged from the margins of power, was a peasant girl
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"qui donne à France la mamelle de paix et doulce norriture” (XXIV) – mother like, breast feeding France with the milk of her peace
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Le Livre du corps de policie (ca 1406-1407), Le Livre de paix (1414), and the Epistre à la reine de France (1405).