• DOI:10.1177/026569147800800103
• Corpus ID: 144288791

Francis I and the Courtiers of Castiglione's Courtier

@article{Clough1978FrancisIA,
  title={Francis I and the Courtiers of Castiglione's Courtier},
  author={Cecil H. Clough},
  journal={European History Quarterly},
  year={1978},
  volume={8},
  pages={23 - 70}
}

• C. Clough
• Published 1 January 1978
• History
• European History Quarterly

There exist in the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, two manuscripts which together comprise a complete translation into French of Baldassare Castiglione’s Il libro del Cortegiano. They were originally bound together as a single manuscript thought to be the actual copy destined for King Francis I (1515-47) and presented to him by the translator, Jacques Colin (d. 1547).’ Evidence suggests that Colin’s translation was completed before the beginning of 1537, and one can certainly believe that the translator thought his royal master would be gratified with his work, even if he had not specifically commissioned it.~ For Francis I had been connected with the author of the original work, with many of the male courtiers who are given a principal place in the work, and, indeed, in an early draft had a place as having stimulated the work itself, though he probably never knew it. Remarkably enough this fascinating connection has never been considered in detail, and the prime purpose of this article is to fill this gap. First the nature of the relationship will be outlined, and secondly some general conclusions will be drawn. In order to make these latter I advance examples of other Italians in the service of Francis I, as well as touching upon ecclesiastical patronage, this being the way of advancement for some of the courtiers who figure in The Courtier, to use the English title familiar since Hoby’s translation (first printed in 1561).3 I would stress, though, that my objective in the second part of this study is merely to illustrate the careers of the persons mentioned in