Guillaume Crétin facts for kids

Guillaume Dubois (also known as Guillaume Crétin) was an important French poet who lived a long time ago, from about 1460 to 1525. He was part of a special group of poets called the Grands Rhétoriqueurs. These poets were known for their very clever and intricate use of language and rhymes in their poems.

Guillaume Dubois: A Poet's Life

Guillaume Dubois held several important jobs during his life. He was the treasurer for the Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes, which meant he managed the money for that royal chapel. Later, he became a cantor at the famous Sainte-Chapelle de Paris. A cantor is someone who sings and leads music in a church.

Serving the King

Dubois also worked for the king of France, Francis I of France. He was the king's ordinary almoner. An almoner was a person who helped the king give money and charity to people in need. This shows that Guillaume Dubois was not just a poet but also someone trusted with important duties in the royal court and church.

His Unique Poetry

Guillaume Dubois was a very skilled writer. Many of his poems, especially his 'chants royaux' (which means "royal songs" or "royal poems"), were highly praised by other poets and people of his time. These 'chants royaux' were often written for special occasions or to honor important people.

A Master of Rhyme

He was especially known for his clever use of 'rime équivoquée'. This is a type of rhyming where words sound the same but have different meanings, or where a word is split across two lines to create a rhyme. It was a very tricky and artistic way to write poetry. Other famous poets, like Jean Lemaire de Belges and Clément Marot, recognized him as a true master of this style. One example of his clever rhyming can be found in his poem called Espistre à Honorat de la Jaille, written around 1510.