I lived from 1524-1585.
I was from France, and am in the European category.
Ronsard was a minor cleric but did not let that stop him from having and writing about various romances. Charles lX of France was his chief Patron although he also wrote for Catherine de Medici. Most of his poetry was written towards the end of his life and much was about the fair Helene (one of Catherine de Medici's ladies in waiting). Unfortunately for him she did not return his feelings but fortunately for us his love inspired some fine poetry.
Read full description by Oldpoetry Research Team...
Pierre de Ronsard was born on 11th September 1524 in the French village of Couture-sur-Loir, Loir-et-Cher. His early education was by home tutors but he was eventually sent to the College of Navarre in Paris at the age of 9.
As a youth he spent 3 years in the service of King James V of Scotland following the King's marriage to Madeline of France. The later part of this time is thought to have been spent in England despite being acredited to the Scottish Court. On returning to France at the age of 16 in 1540 he entered service with the Duke of Orleans in whose service he found many excuses for travelling around Europe.
There followed a number of similar posts most notably with the Cardinal du Bellay-Langay before he unfortunately fell ill and became in curably deaf, thus ending his diplomatic career.
At this point he devote himself to study at the College Coqueret. The college principal Daurat was one of the Pleiade group of French poets, a group which Ronsard joined and eventualy led. This period of study lasted a further 7 years.
Tonsard's writings gained favour at the court of the French King. When Charles lX succeeded his brother Ronsard was firmly establisged as the Kings master of poetry and he gained a number of abbeys and priories from the King's gift.
Following the Death of Charles Tonsard's fortunes were maintained by his successor but failing health caused the poet to forsake Court life for life in the Abbey of Croix-Val or his own home in Vendome.
His last years were saddened, not merely by the death of many of his friends, but by constant and increasing ill-health. This did not interfere with his literary work sice he was rarely idle, and some of his latest work is considered among his best. But he succumber to the temptation of constantly altering his work, and many of his later alterations are by no means for the better. Towards the end of 1585 his condition of health grew worse and worse, and in December he died. He was buried at the church of Saint-Cosme at Tours on Friday December 27th 1585.
JS
Links of interest include
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Ronsard
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