Jean Froissart, Chroniques de Froissart


Jean Froissart, Chroniques de Froissart, National Maritime Museum, England.

An Anglo-French amphibious force assaults Medina in Ifrikiya


 
Date Description Source Reference
15th century Thirteen bell tents, no guy ropes or pegs shown. 

Blue bell tent, red ball and cone apex, roof and wall panel definition. 

Brown bell tent, small yellow (same as back ground) banner a top pole, yellow (or gold) ball apex and apron, panel definition of roof and walls, decorated valance (light green band with green tendril design, below which is a thin band of alternate coloured sections (red, white and blue). 

Green bell tent, reddish ball apex, apron is coloured firstly in a blue band then a light brown band, panel definition on roof and what is visible of the walls. 

Grey (almost black) bell tent, red ball apex and apron, panel definition on roof. 

Reddish / light brown bell tent, red ball apex and apron, plain blue valance, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Blue bell tent, red ball apex and apron, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Large light brown bell tent, tip of apex obscured by frame, what can be seen ia a white thin cone with spiral lines on it, the roof has two rows of 'dormer' windows, the first row (three visible a fourth on the far side would make it semetrical) extend up from the valance, the second row are on top of the 'dormer' windows on the opposite sides of the roof, from the end of each dormer window gable rises a flag pole toped by a small square banner, this design looks very similar to domestic architecture of the period, panel definition on roof and walls, green valance with black tendril decoration and a thin band of alternate shaded strips. Compare to a similar tent in the Joust of St. Ingilbert

Green bell tent, small square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  panel definition on roof and walls. 

White bell tent, small square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  plain red valance, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Light red bell tent, small red square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron, plain light blue valance but with a thin band of alternately shaded stripes, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Two blue bell tents, small square banners (one red)  a top a poles, red ball apexes and aprons,  panel definition on roof (walls are not visible. 

White bell tent, small red square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  plain light green valance, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Note; The version in Brice shows the browns as pinks and the blues as purples.

“Another illustration from the Froissart Chronicles...” Mansell Collection. 
-

According to Brice it is; “ 1390: an Anglo-French amphibious force assaults Medina in Ifrikiya (Modern Tunis), retaliation for attacks by Barbary Corsairs...” National Maritime Museum. 

Humble, R., Warfare in the Middle Ages, London, 1989, p. 147. 
Brice, M., Forts and Fortresses, London, 1990, p. 98. 


Jean Froissart, Chroniques de Froissart, British Library, London.
The Jousts of St.Inglibert

Date Description Source Reference
15th century Three bell tents (pink roof and wall, with dark blue roof edge with gold decoration) with “dormer” windows in the roof. The centre bell tent has six dormer windows, each with a separate blue roof visible, and I suspect there would be another three such windows on the other side. 

In Delort only the centre tent is shown but the complete apex decoration is shown, banners from tops on the apex and from the dormer windows, and looks like the poles consist of elaborate iron work. 

Similar to 'The Joust of St Inglevet.'

“Medieval Tournament...(Chroniques de Froissart, 15th century).” Bibliothèque National, Paris. 
-
'Tournament. A famous 
Tournament Overlearf): The Joust of St Ingilbert.' 
-
p. 219. 194-195. The Jousts of St.Inglibert (BL, MS Harl, 4379, f. 23v) 
Koch, H.W., Medieval Warfare, London, 1978, p. 108. 

Delort, R., Life in the Middle Ages, London, 1973, p. 226. 

Hallam, E., Ed., The Plantagent Encyclopedia, An Alphabetical Guide to 400 Years of English History, London, 1990, p.194-195. 

British Library, Picture Library 

http://www.bl.uk/services/repro/
picture-library/jousting.html

Jean Froissart, Chroniques de Froissart, Bibliothèque National, Paris.

The Burghers of Calais giving up the keys of the city
The English crossing the Tyne, Anglo-Scottish War
Battle of Cassel, the French combat the Flemish (1328)
Siege of Hennebont, Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany, besieges Hennebont (1342)
Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany, is taken prisoner at the Battle of La Roche-Derrien (1347)
Edward III of England besieging Reims (1359/60)
King Peter the Cruel taken Prisoner
French and English forces at the Battle of Chizè (1373)
Bertrand du Guesclin laying siege to Brest (1374)
The French lay siege of Duras (1377)
Castilians besiege Lisbon (1384)
Roalès besieged by the English (1387)
Jousts of Saint Inglevet
Genoese besieging Mahdia, in Tunis (1390)
Before an assembly of French and English nobles, Charles VI entrusts to an English envoy his daughter, Isabella of France, betrothed to King Richard II of England
Massacre of Christian prisoners taken (at) the Battle of Nicopol, in the presence of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I


 
Date Description Source Reference
15th century Thirteen bell tents, no guy ropes or pegs shown. 

Blue bell tent, blue banner, white ball apex and apron, dark green apex, roof and wall panel definition. 

Light blue bell tent, small yellow (same as back ground) banner a top pole, yellow (or gold) ball apex and apron, panel definition of roof and walls, decorated valance (light green band with green tendril design, below which is a thin band of alternate coloured sections (red, white and blue). 

Green bell tent, white ball apex, apron is coloured firstly in a blue band then a light brown band, panel definition on roof and what is visible of the walls. 

White bell tent, red ball apex and apron, panel definition on roof. 

Pink bell tent, white ball apex and apron, plain dark blue valance with a thin band of alternately coloured stripes (white, blue, white, red), panel definition on roof and walls. 

Blue bell tent, small blue banner, ball apex and apron, dark red valance with a thin blue band underneath, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Pink bell tent, tip of apex obscured by frame, what can be seen ia a white thin cone with spiral lines on it, the roof has two rows of 'dormer' windows, the first row (three visible a fourth on the far side would make it semetrical) extend up from the valance, the second row are on top of the 'dormer' windows on the opposite sides of the roof, from the end of each dormer window gable rises a flag pole toped by a small square blue banners, this design looks very similar to domestic architecture of the period, panel definition on roof and walls, green valance with black tendril decoration and a thin band of alternate coloured  stripes (white, blue, white and red). Compare to a similar tent in the Joust of St. Ingilbert

Green bell tent, small square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  panel definition on roof and walls. 

White bell tent, small square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  plain red valance, panel definition on roof and walls. 

Pink bell tent, apex obscured, plain dark blue valance but with a thin band of alternately stripes (white, green, white, red), panel definition on roof and walls. 

Two blue bell tents, small red square banners a top a poles, red ball apexes and aprons,  panel definition on roof (walls are not visible. 

White bell tent, small blue square banner a top a pole, red ball apex and apron,  plain dark green valance with a thin red band underneath, panel definition on roof and walls.

Medieval siege of a stronghold in Africa showing tented encampment, crossbowmen and artillery (Chroniques de Froissart, fourteenth century).” Bibliothèque National, Paris. Koch, H.W., Medieval Warfare, London, 1978, p. 82. 

Johnson, P., The National Trust Book of British Castles, London, 1979, p. 150.

Four white bell tents in right background; flag, flag pole and ball apexes, roof decoration also include; blue line decoration on front two bell tents and black line and circle decoration on the back two.  The burghers of Calais giving up the keys of the city (Chroniques de Froissart, 15th century).” Bibliothèque National, Paris.  Koch, H.W., Medieval Warfare, London, 1978, p. 150.
One purple bell tent, banner on apex, parallel line with dot between them are entwined about the roof, red roof edge. "English and Scottish knights skirmishing on the Tyne, from an illustration to Froissart's Chronicles. " 

“The English crossing the Tyne, Anglo-Scottish War, Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 18, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” 

“Edward III invades Scotland, Bibliothèque National, Paris.” 

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0007.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0007.jpg

Hardy, R., Longbow A Social and Military History, New York, 1976, p. 61. 

Turnbull, S., The Book of the Medieval Knight, Arms and Armour Press, London, 1985, p. 13. 

Six bell tents. 

Red bell tent, gold apex, gold swirl decoration on roof with gold triangles above the roof edge, blue roof edge fringe, three point guy rope attachment, blue interior show a trestle table with three legs at one end. 

White bell tent, gold apex, red crosses across middle of roof, purple triangles above roof edge, gold band around roof edge. 

Purple bell tent, gold apex, apex guy rope, gold line decoration on roof. 

White bell tent, gold apex, apex guy rope, swirl and triangular decoration on roof, red interior. 

White bell tent, gold apex, apex guy rope, roof and roof edge decoration. 

Red bell tent, gold apex , apex guy rope, gold decoration of roof and roof edge.

 “Battle of Cassel, the French combat the Flemish (1328), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 28v, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.”  http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0008.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0008.jpg

Four bell tents in left background. 

White bell tent, blue line decoration on roof and walls. 

Light red bell tent, guy ropes and gold decoration. 

Red bell tent with gold swirl decoration on roof, gold roof edge decoration and roof edge guy ropes. 

Very light purple bell tent, roof delineation. 

Siege of Hennebont, Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany, besieges Hennebont (1342), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 104v, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0016.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0016.jpg 

Eight bell tents and one pavilion. 

Small yellow bell tent, ball and disc apex decoration, streamer decoration descends from apex, vine decoration on roof edge which over hangs wall top, three point guy rope attachment under roof edge, light blue interior. Two English soldiers are pulling the tent over by hauling on what could have been one of the apex guy ropes. 

Red pavilion, one apex decoration visible, white line decoration on roof, white circle with horizontal lines decorate the roof edge, three point guy rope attachment to under roof edge, inscriptions a third of the way down the wall in a decorative boarder (“C.DE” on the left of the doorway, “BLOIS” on the right of the doorway and “CO” visible on the end wall panel) white line decorative border along bottom edge of pavilion, green interior. 

White bell tent, small square banner atop apex, streamer decoration descends from apex to an encircling band, below is an inscription which reads “S.DENIV”, red then blue bands decorate the roof edge, three point guy rope attachment to roof edge, line decoration on wall possibly showing panels, pointed bottom edge decoration. 

Yellow bell tent, roof only visible, small square atop apex, red band about middle of roof, below are a series of rosettes, then more red decoration around roof edge. 

In background of five bell tents, in orange, purple, red and two white ones. 

Charles of Blois, Duke of Brittany, is taken prisoner at the Battle of La Roche-Derrien (1347) Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 180, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0024.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0024.jpg 

Three bell tents and one pavilion. 

Right foreground. 

White bell tent, golden apex ball a top a disc and apron, apex guy rope, blue line decoration on roof and wall, red fringe roof edge decoration, three point roof edge guy rope attachment, inscription on wall panels; “C, A, N, C”. 

Left foreground. 

Red pavilion, no ridge or apex decoration, gold detailing on seam lines and golden fringe. 

Background. 

White bell tent, similar in decoration to previously mentioned bell tent but the roof edge decoration is in gold and the walls are not clearly visible. 

Purple bell tent, similar apex as previously mentioned, gold line and dot decoration on roof, gold fringe roof edge decoration.

Edward III of England besieging Reims (1359/60), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 253, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0033.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0033.jpg

Four bell tents and one pavilion in the right hand background. 

White bell tent with blue line decoration on roof and walls. ball and disc apex decoration, some red crosses are evenly spaced out around the middle of the roof, on each panel of the walls is a letter (H, C, M, obscured, C), and then some red triangular decoration around the bottom edge of the walls. 

Orange bell tent, ball and disc apex, swirl decoration on roof. 

Light purple bell tent, ball and disc apex, gold roof edge decoration. 

Light red pavilion, two ball and disc apexes. 

Blue bell tent, ball and disc apex, gold decoration around apex and roof edge.

King Peter the Cruel taken Prisoner, Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 330v, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0040.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0040.jpg

Four bell tents and two pavilions. 

Purple triangular pavilion , ‘hs” in gold on end roof panel, gold roof decoration, three point guy rope attachment. 

Blue bell tent, apex guy rope, apex guy rope, gold line decoration on roof, gold roof edge decoration, letters on each visible wall panel (H, E, N), triangular and line decoration along bottom edge of wall. 

White bell tent, gold roof edge band, three point roof edge guy rope attachment. 

A pavilion very similar to the purple pavilion but it looks more like a wall tent. 

Red bell tent, ball apex, apex guy rope, gold roof edge decoration. 

White bell tent, apex guy ropes, three point guy rope attachment.

“French and English forces at the Battle of Chizè (1373), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 406, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0047.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0047.jpg

One pavilion and four bell tents. 

Red pavilion, gold decoration along roof ridge, horizontally along middle of roof and just above roof edge, green with gold detail on roof edge with gold fringe, gold decoration horizontally along middle of wall. 

Blue bell tent, gold apex, three point guy rope attachment. 

Purple bell tent. 

Very light purple bell tent, three point guy rope attachment. 

Green bell tent, three point guy rope attachment.

Bertrand du Guesclin laying siege to Brest (1374), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2643, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 410, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman1/i3_0048.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0048.jpg

One pavilion and eight bell tents. From foreground to background. 

The red pavilion has no apex decoration but has line decoration on the roof, roof edge decoration with fringe, three point guy rope attachment to roof edge. 

The first bell tent is dark blue in colour with a green interior, apex decoration, swirl descending from apex, “EGTATE” is written just above roof edge. 

The rest of the tents consist of: a yellow bell tent with green interior; a dark purple bell tent with gold roof edge decoration; a light purple bell tent; a white bell tent; a blue pavilion; a red bell tent with gold roof edge decoration; and finally two very light blue bell tents.

“The French lay siege of Duras (1377), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2644, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol.9 , Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” 

“The sieges were long and hazardous...” Provenance unknown.

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman2/i4_0012.htm
 

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i4_0012.jpg 

Delort, R., Life in the Middle Ages, London, 1973, p. 232.

Four bell tents and two pavilions. 

Red bell tent, no apex decoration, some gold spots on roof, three point guy rope attachment to roof edge, some gold decoration on walls, four of the bottom edge pegs are evident. 

Red bell tent (centre), triangular banner atop ball apex, gold line decoration on roof and walls. 

Blue pavilion, white diamond and dot decoration on roof, white line decoration on walls with crosses in the top of each section, some white bottom edge decoration visible, end guy ropes visible. 

Red pavilion, very little visible, maybe some gold line decoration, end guy rope visible. 

One yellow and one orange bell tent visible in the background.

Castilians besiege Lisbon (1384), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2645, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 1, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman3/i3_0049.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0049.jpg

Two bell tents and one pavilion. 

Blue bell tent (centre) with silver decoration on roof and walls, banner pole but no banner a top apex, diamond decoration just below apex followed by the streamer descending from the apex, silver lines around roof edge, the walls are decorated with four pointed design, three point guy rope attachment. 

Red bell tent (left), small two tailed banner a top pole on apex, gold swirl with dot decoration on roof, three point guy rope attachment at roof edge, similar decoration to blue bell tent on walls but in gold. 

Pink pavilion (right), gold diamond decoration on roof, three point guy rope attachment, gold line decoration on walls, multiple bottom edge pegs but the ropes seem to extend to an area above the wall’s bottom edge.

Roalès besieged by the English (1387), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2645, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 132, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.”  http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman3/i3_0057.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0057.jpg

Three bell tents. 

Yellow bell tent (left) , only part of the left side visible, roof edge guy rope and peg visible, two heraldic banners hang from the upper reaches of guy ropes. 

Orange bell tent (middle), slanting lines from left to right, in between some of the lines are lines of circles, roof edge guy ropes are visible on either side of the tent, two heraldic banners hang from the guy ropes on either side of the door way, the walls are decorated in a light coloured floral pattern. 

Blue bell tent (right) with only the left side visible, similar line and circle decoration to roof of orange bell tent but the same pattern is carried on the walls in silver detail, two guy ropes and pegs are visible on the left, two heraldic banners hang from either guy rope near the top of the guy rope. 

Similar to 'The Joust of St Ingilbert.'

 “Jousts of Saint Inglevet, Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2646, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 43v, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.  http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman4/i3_0077.htm

http:www/bnp.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0077.jpeg

Five bell tents. 

Red bell tent (right), small square banner a top apex, gold streamers descend from roof gold decoration on roof edge, no guy ropes, gold tendril decoration on walls. 

Yellow bell tent (side only), gold decoration on roof and walls, bottom edge is scalloped and held by pegs. 

Blue bell tent (side only), gold decoration on roof and walls, bottom edge guy ropes and pegs. 

Red bell tent (side only), gold decoration on roof and walls, gold ‘fluer de lis” on walls. 

Light blue bell tent, dark blue line decoration on roof and walls, two tailed pennon from pole a top apex, dark blue band of tendril decoration around middle section of tent. 

Genoese besieging Mahdia, in Tunis (1390), Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2646, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 79, Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman4/i3_0080.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0080.jpg

Two bell tents. 

Left, a blue bell tent with golden Fluer de Lis evenly printed on roof and walls, a French flag flies on a flag pole sitting on a ball apex. 

Right, a red bell tent golden decoration consisting of ; swirls of gold flowing from the apex, three bands of lions separated by decorative bands on the walls. Only the tents ball apex is visible. 

Only some of either tents guy ropes are depicted, single point attachment on the tents are visible.

“Before an assembly of French and English nobles, Charles VI entrusts to an English envoy his daughter, Isabella of France, betrothed to King Richard II of England, Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2646, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 245v., Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” 

“The marriage of Richard II and Isabella, daughter of Charles VI of France. From Chronique de Froissart.” 

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman4/i3_0092.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0092.jpg 
 

Dunan, M., Ed., Larousse Encyclopedia of Ancient and Medieval History, London, 1967, p. 369.

One red bell tent in the background. 

Apex cut off by picture border, roof decoration in diagonal bands of alternate; lines, dots, wiggly lines, on a orange background, then dots on a darker red background, and then the pattern repeats itself, roof edge is decorated with dots in circles held within bands of light orange lines, the walls are a lighter red than the roof, with evenly spaced decoration which looks like a comet, with it’s tail pointing to the ground, the open door flaps reveal a dark patterned interior material. 

Massacre of Christian prisoners taken (at) the Battle of Nicopol, in the presence of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I, Bibliothèque National, Paris, Fr 2646, Jean Froissart Chronicles fol. 255v., Flandres, Bruges 15th century.” http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
manuscrits/aman4/i3_0095.htm

http://www.bnf.fr/enluminures/
images/jpeg/i3_0095.jpg

The copy of Jean Froissart's Chronicle (BNF, Fr 2643 - 2646) was enluminated by Loyset Lyedet, another work by this artist is: The Story of Alexander the Great.


This page was last updated on the 6th April 2001

There have been Visitors to this page
Return to the top of the page |  Return to the Introduction page | Return to the Index page

Copyright © Stephen Francis Wyley 1999 - 2001
svenskildbiter@angelfire.com