Charles d'Orleans, a mediaeval poet, was a cousin of the French king, was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and spent 25 years as a prisoner in England. During this time, he composed over 500 love poems and political verses in English and French, which were widely circulated during his lifetime.
Other than love poems and ballads, his poetry was of melancholy themes.
My Very Sweet Valentine
This was a poem, which was sent by the 15th-century prince Charles d'Orléans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
The poem that is sometimes referred to as the earliest known Valentine begins ‘Je suis desja d'amour tanné / Ma tresdoulce Valentinee’ (I’m already wearied by love, my very sweet Valentine).
Despite being addressed to ‘my very sweet Valentine’, the poem is not a personal message of affection like today’s Valentine’s cards. It actually refers to the courtly practice of holding a lottery on St Valentine’s Day in which everyone was assigned a partner, generally not their husband or wife, who was supposed to be their ‘Valentine’ for the year. This was a rather artificial enactment of the concept of courtly love, in which knights were supposed to devote themselves to the service of a married lady. In the poem, Charles excuses himself from the custom, apologetically telling his allotted Valentine that he’s too old and tired.
source Bl Uk blogs.
Image - which was sent by the 15th-century prince Charles d'Orléans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. - source Bl Uk blogs.
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