Poet, Philosopher, Criminal: The Extraordinary Life and Mysterious Disappearance of François Villon
Renowned as an artist who lived his life on the fringes of polite society, François Villon struggled with his demons while simultaneously being regarded as one of the finest poets in medieval France
Early Years
Born in Paris around 1431, François Villon was orphaned as a young boy. Fortunately for him, a man named Guillaume de Villon took him in and provided him with an education.
This ultimately led to Villon earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of Paris. With the support of his benefactor, Villon appeared to be on a path towards a life filled with learning and security. However, his bright future was quickly eclipsed by a string of incidents that forever altered the course of his life.
In 1455, Villon got into a fight that led to the death of a priest named Philippe Sermoise. Though he argued that he acted in self-defense, he chose to leave Paris.
This incident forever altered his future and pushed him towards a criminal life, which would define his later years as a fugitive and outlaw.
Life As a Criminal and Fugitive
In 1456, Villon led a daring robbery at the Collège de Navarre in Paris with a gang of partners, stealing 500 gold crowns. This move marked his shift from a once-promising path in life to a more reckless one.
This robbery had repercussions, as Villon was eventually banished from Paris and disappeared yet again from the city that had played a key role in cultivating his intellectual and social circles.
While exiled from society, Villon roamed France like a vagabond without a place to call home. He kept his whereabouts secret during this time, prompting speculation and enhancing his persona.
It was believed that Villon penned some of his most renowned works, like Le Petit Testament and Le Grand Testament, during these years of uncertainty and wandering.
These poems delve into themes of mortality, wistfulness, and the fleeting essence of life, capturing the chaos and unease of his time in vivid detail.
Villon's wry humor and sharp wit indicate a man who was keenly aware of the uncertainty of his circumstances but could still create poetry that has stood the test of time.
Throughout Villon's years as a fugitive, there were times when he seemed to vanish without a trace. Eluding both the authorities and historical records alike.
Information regarding Villon’s whereabouts during this period remains sparse. In 1461, Villon found himself imprisoned at Meung-sur-Liore, likely due to theft. Luck was on his side, though, as shortly after his incarceration, King Louis XI granted general amnesty to prisoners later that year, resulting in Villon's release.
Villon's respite was brief. In 1462, he was sentenced to hang for participating in another theft. However, once again, Villon evaded the noose by appealing and having his punishment reduced to a decade of exile from Paris.
Disappearance
There is no record of Villon’s activities or fate after January 1463. Scholars and historians were left to ponder over what might have become of him. Some speculate that he carried on with his criminal ways and was perhaps executed under an assumed name. Or, perhaps, he had a quiet and uneventful demise.
Others entertain the idea that he might have passed away in poverty and obscurity, his body laid to rest in an unmarked grave. Whatever the truth, his fate remains just as mysterious as his life had been.
Villon's vanishing has only added to his reputation among those he knew and inspired through his extraordinary poetry over the years.
Today, Villon is seen as a symbol of the unconventional artist who challenged societal norms and survived on the fringes of society. Villon's life story, filled with drama and daring getaways, is mirrored in his writing, which frequently explores topics like the transience of life, fate, and mortality.
Legacy
Despite his history of crime, or maybe due to it, Villon's literary heritage has stood the test of time for centuries. His writings, notably Le Petit Testament and Le Grand Testament, are seen as pivotal pieces of medieval French poetry. These verses, teeming with ideas about death, remorse, and the fleeting nature of existence, provide insight into Villon’s inner self, a self molded by a challenging life filled with wrongdoing and continual avoidance.
The connection between Villon's life and his poetry is clear, both in the mood and substance of his poems. His lines are filled with humor and clever insight that mirrors the uncertainty of his life as a fugitive. Nonetheless, in the midst of his reality, Villon's poetry also unveils a tenacious attitude that has captivated audiences for generations.
Sources:
Villon, F. (1960). The complete works of François Villon (A. Bonner, Trans.). Bantam Books.
Huot, S. (1987). From song to book: The poetics of writing in old French lyric and lyrical narrative poetry. Cornell University Press.
Rouben, P. F. (1977). Francis Villon: A portrait of a poet as criminal. Oxford University Press.
Laidlaw, J. (1998). François Villon: Poet or outlaw? French Studies, 52(4), 401–416.
Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). François Villon (1431-1463). Retrieved August 30, 2024, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/francois-villon
Brown, E. A. R. (2016, December 12). Francis Villon: The poet’s final days. Medievalists.net. https://www.medievalists.net/2016/12/francis-villon-poets-final-days/