About
Pierre de Ronsard (1524-1585) was a major French Renaissance poet. Born at the Château de la Possonnière, he first pursued a career as a page at court, but partial deafness forced him to turn to letters. He studied Greek under Jean Dorat at the Collège de Coqueret and became the leader of the Pléiade, a group of seven poets aiming to elevate French poetry to classical standards. Nicknamed the 'Prince of Poets,' he enjoyed royal patronage, especially from Charles IX. His work includes odes, love sonnets, hymns, and engaged poems during the Wars of Religion. His influence declined in the 17th century before being rediscovered by the Romantics.
* 1524-09-11 — † 1585-12-27
Major works
- Odes (1550)poetry collection
- Les Amours (1552)sonnet collection
- Hymnes (1555)poetry collection
- La Franciade (1572)epic
- Sonnets pour Hélène (1578)sonnet collection
Key milestones
- 1540An illness makes him partially deaf, ending his career as a page.
- 1550Publication of his first Odes, establishing him as leader of the Pléiade.
- 1562He writes the Discours des misères de ce temps, engaged poems in favor of Catholics during the Wars of Religion.
Themes
lovenaturepassing timemythologypolitical engagement
Sources: id.loc.gov · oxfordbibliographies.com · poetryfoundation.org