Eustache Deschamps

Eustache Deschamps (c. 1346 – c. 1407) was a French poet and musician, a contemporary of Christine de Pizan. Born in Vertus, Champagne, he was educated in Paris. He played an important role in the literary life of the late 14th century, serving as court poet and musician. His work is vast and diverse, including about 800 ballads, as well as other poetic forms. His "Art de Dictier" (c. 1392) is a significant treatise on the composition of poetry and music, outlining the rules for creating various metric forms. Deschamps was a friend and admirer of Guillaume de Machaut, and his work demonstrates the influence of the latter. He traveled extensively, including stays at the English court, where he seems to have had an impact. Despite his prominence in his time, his work fell into relative obscurity after his death, being rediscovered and valued by modern scholars for its insight into 14th-century culture and literature.