I Am Already Sick of Love

By Angelyn Schmid On Feb 14 2012, 1:51 am in Agincourt, Bonne of Armagnac, Charles of Orleans, Christine de Pizan, Hundred Years War, Isabeau of Valois, Louis XII, Marie of Cleves, Mary Tudor, Valentina Visconti, Valentine, White Tower

Charles of Orleans taking Bonne of Armagnac to wife

The first Valentine written is credited to Charles, Duke of Orleans (1394 – 1465).  He was captured by the English at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War between England and France.  During his twenty-four year captivity, he composed over five hundred poems, many of them he translated into English from French. 

Charles first married Isabeau of Valois, Richard II of England’s young widow.  She died bearing him a daughter when he was only fifteen.  His second wife was Bonne of Armagnac, the daughter of a count.  They had been married five years when he was taken at Agincourt.  She never had any children and died while he was yet a captive.  The thing she did have of him was his poem, called A Farewell to Love:

I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine,

Since for me you were born too soon, And I for you was born too late.

God forgives he who has estranged/Me from you for the whole year.

I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine,

Well might I have suspected, That such a destiny,

Thus would have happened this day, How much that Love would have commanded.

I am already sick of love, My very gentle Valentine.

Charles went on to marry Marie of Cleves after his release and by her had a son who became Louis XII of France.  He might be remembered as the fellow who ill-advisedly took the young Mary Tudor to wife when he was far too old for that sort of thing (yes, that’s the one). 

Men are such peacocks, are they not?

10 Responses to “I Am Already Sick of Love”

1. Sarah Lotfi says:

   February 14, 2012 at 3:53 pm

   I love how the very first Valentine on record was written by a contemporary of Christine de Pizan…brings back fond memories of the studies of her works.
2. Angelyn says:

   February 14, 2012 at 4:35 pm

   Thanks for commenting, Sarah. Apparently the poet was brought by her astrologer/physician father from Italy to the court of Charles V. Poetry in those days was so multi-layerd as I’m sure you know.
3. Allison Collins says:

   February 14, 2012 at 5:24 pm

   Even in those simpler days, love wasn’t easy, was it? I guess that’s why we write…we want the guaranteed happy ever after. (Lovely pictures you chose for the post!)
   • Angelyn says:

     February 14, 2012 at 9:35 pm

     LOL–and we all love a happy ending! Thanks for stopping by!
4. Sasha Summers says:

   February 14, 2012 at 5:36 pm

   Interesting post. I didn’t know a thing about the first Valentine. A bit sad, really.
   • Angelyn says:

     February 14, 2012 at 9:36 pm

     That was a sad one. It may have been the first but was probably not the last. Thanks for your comment, Sasha.
5. Ally Broadfield says:

   February 14, 2012 at 7:26 pm

   It is a rather sad valentine, but apparently he recovered quickly from his sorrows since he managed to marry so many women, even with the 24 year imprisonment and all.
   • Angelyn says:

     February 14, 2012 at 9:49 pm

     I am still amazed he sired a child at fifteen. Maybe that wasn’t so amazing when you consider the times, I suppose. Thanks for stopping by, Ally–
6. Ella Quinn says:

   February 14, 2012 at 9:53 pm

   There was no time that was actually simpler. It was just different. Men are men and women are women. Thanks for the post and the picture. Lovely.
   • Angelyn says:

     February 15, 2012 at 3:12 am

     Thanks for the compliment!