Gautier
le Leu - 1210
Picardy has known during the Middle Ages an intense cultural activity, and many authors
cited in medieval literary anthologies were from the area : Blondel de Nesles, Jean Bodel,
Conon de Béthune, Adam de la Halle, Gautier le Leu, Froissart, these are the names of the
better known, but dozens of others could be cited...in addition to those whose name has
been lost such as the author of "Aucassin" and "Nicolette".
Gautier le Leu, born in 1210, also called Gautier le Long was a priest and minstrel who
probably came from Valenciennes. He is one of the most famous authors of licentious
fables, sometimes obscene, some are even scatological (Gonnebert, les Trois Souhaits, le
Fol Vilain, la Veuve, le Sot Chevalier, le Dit du con ...) where he takes some wild
liberties with (De Dieu et du Pêcheur).
Works by Gautier Le Leu:
"Connebert"
"De Dieu et du Pécheur"
"le Dit du con"
"le Fol Vilain"
"le Sot Chevalier"
"les Trois Souhaits"
"la Veuve"
Works concerning Gautier Le Leu:
-"Le jongleur Gautier Le Leu, Études sur les fabliaux", Cambridge,
Massachussetts, Harvard University Press, 1951.
- "Trouvères belges du XIIe au XIVe siècle", Chansons d'amour, jeux-partis,
pastourelles, dits et fabliaux par Quenes de Béthune, Henri III, duc de Brabant,
Gillebert de Berneville, Mahieu de Gand, Jacques de Baisieux, Gauthier le Long, etc.,
Auguste Scheler, Bruxelles, Closson, 1876, (reprint, Genève, Slatkine, 1977).