Richard II in Jean Froissart's Chroniques

Abstract

Jean Froissart's Chroniques have been traditionally listed among sources sympathetic to King Richard II of England (1377–1399). Especially in more recent times, when Richard has attracted increased attention — and when numerous studies have attempted the rehabilitation of his character — Froissart's account has been brought forward to counterbalance the negative depictions of Richard dished up in Lancastrian chronicles. But as a careful reading of the Chroniques reveals, Froissart was more critical of Richard, and of his policies, than previously thought. Time after time Froissart assails Richard's poor handling of critical events, and he questions Richard's judgement in any number of instances. More poithe point, Richard emerges in the Chroniques as the architect of his own undoing; and we find Froissart wondering, aloud, whether England was not better off in being rid of Ricardian absolutism. In the final analysis, then, the overwhelmingly anti-Ricardian portrait of Richard painted by Froissart suggests more universal disapproval of the king than so far recognized, and it stands in stark contrast to the assessments of other French narratives.

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