Christine de Pizan

Christine de Pizan or Pisan (French: [kʁistin də pizɑ̃] , Middle French: [krisˈtinə də piˈzã]; born Cristina da Pizzano; September 1364 – c. 1430), was a Venetian-born French court writer for King Charles VI of France and several French royal dukes, in both prose and poetry. She wrote in French, having been raised in France to parents who came from Bologna. Her father was invited to the French court in 1368, when Christine was only four years old, to serve as a doctor and astrologer. He insisted that his daughter learn philosophy, Latin, Italian, French, history, literature, and science, which was very unusual for the time.

Christine became a court writer in medieval France after the death of her husband. Her patrons included dukes Louis I of Orleans, Philip the Bold of Burgundy, and his son John the Fearless. Considered to be some of the earliest feminist writings, her work includes novels, poetry, and biography, and she also penned literary, historical, philosophical, political, and religious reviews and analyses. Her best known works are The Book of the City of Ladies and The Treasure of the City of Ladies, both prose works written when she worked for John the Fearless of Burgundy. Her books of advice to princesses, princes, and knights remained in print until the sixteenth century.