Geoffrey Chaucer was the man!
1340-45 Birth of Chaucer
1357 Chaucer a page in the household of the Countess of Ulster.
1359-60 Chaucer serves in the war in France.
1360 Chaucer, captured by the French, is ransomed (for 16 pounds).
1366 Chaucer marries Philippa Roet, a lady-in-waiting in the Queen's household
1366 Chaucer travels to Spain
1366 Death of John Chaucer, Chaucer's father.
1367 Birth of Chaucer's son, Thomas
1367 Chaucer serves as a "valettus" and later as a squire in the court of Edward III; granted a payment of 20 marks per annum for life.
1368 Chaucer travels to the continent (France probably) on "the King's service."
1368-72 Chaucer writes "Fragment A" of the Romaunt of the Rose, The Book of the Duchess, probably a good many lyrics in French and English, now lost, and such lyrics as The Complaint unto Pity and The Complaint to His Lady.
1369 Chaucer serves with John of Gaunt's army in France.
1370 Chaucer again serves with the army in France.
1372 Chaucer's wife Philippa in the household of John of Gaunt's wife.
1372 Chaucer travels to Italy (Genoa and Florence) on a diplomatic mission.
1374 Chaucer granted a gallon pitcher of wine daily for life.
1374 Chaucer is appointed controller of the customs; granted a lease on a dwelling over Aldgate.
1375 Chaucer and Otho de Graunson (French knight and poet on whose poems Chaucer drew for his "Complaint of Venus") both receive grants from John of Gaunt.
1378 Chaucer travels to Italy (Milan) on diplomatic mission.
Late 1370's Chaucer writes Saint Cecelia (possibly later); The House of Fame, Anelida and Arcite.
1380 Cecily Chaumpaigne signs a document, releasing Chaucer from all actions in the case of my rape ("de raptu meo").
1380 Birth of Chaucer's second son, Lewis.
1380 Chaucer writes The Parliament of Fowls.
1381 Death of Chaucer's mother, Agnes Chaucer.
1382-86 Chaucer writes Boece, Troilus and Criseyede.
1382 Chaucer's controllorship of the customs is renewed, with permission to have a deputy.
1385 Chaucer is granted a permanent deputy in the customs.
1385 Eustache Deschamps sends Chaucer a poem of praise, hailing him as "great translator, noble Geoffrey Chaucer."
1385-87 Chaucer writes "Palamoun and Arcite" (later used as The Knight's Tale); " The Legend of Good Women (though some parts are probably earlier and the prologue was later revised).
1385-89 Chaucer serves as justice of peace for Kent.
1386 Chaucer gives up the house in Aldgate; resigns from customs.
1386 Chaucer serves as member of Parliament for Kent (where he now probably lives).
1386/87 (Perhaps earlier) Chaucer is praised as a poet of Love and Philosophy by Thomas Usk, a younger contemporary (1350-88), author of The Testament of Love.
1387-92 Chaucer begins The Canterbury Tales.
1389 Chaucer is appointed clerk of the works at Westminster, Tower of London, and other royal estates.
1390 As clerk of the works, Chaucer has scaffolds built for jousts in Smithfield.
1390 Chaucer is robbed of horse, goods, 20 pounds, 6 shillings, 8 pence at Hacham, Surrey (perhaps robbed again a bit later).
1391-92 Chaucer writes Treatise of the Astrolabe (with additions 1393 and later).
1392-95 Chaucer writes most of The Canterbury Tales, including probably "The Marriage Group."
1394 King Richard II grants Chaucer an annuity of 20 pounds a year.
c. 1396 Chaucer writes "The Envoy to Bukton," in which the addressee is urged to read "The Wife of Bath."
1396-1400 Chaucer writes the latest of the Tales, including probably The Nun's Priest's Tale, The Canon's Yeoman's Tale (though part is probably earlier), the Parson's Tale, and several short poems, including the envoys to Scogan and Bukton and the "Complaint to His Purse."
1398 Chaucer is granted a tun of wine a year.
1399 Chaucer leases a tenement, for 53 years, in the garden of the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey.
1400 Chaucer's death (on 25 October, according to tradition).
(New Chaucer Society)
