Which European female poet and author was a prolific writer at the court of King Charles VI of France?

At the court of King Charles VI of France (1368-1422) as well as several French dukes, was a female Italian poet and author from the Republic of Venice, Christine de Pizan (1364 - c. 1430). She served as a court writer in medieval France after the death of her husband. Considered to be one of the earliest feminist writers, her work includes novels, poetry, and biography, and she also penned literary, historical, philosophical, political and religious reviews and analyses.

She wrote books providing advice to princesses, princes, and knights that remained in print until the 16th century.

Her father Thomas de Pizan, was a physician, court astrologer and Councillor of the Republic of Venice. When he accepted an appointment to the court of Charles V of France as the king’s astrologer, Christine moved to Paris in 1368.

In 1379 she married the notary and royal secretary Étienne du Castel but he died of the plague in 1389. In the decade they were married, the couple had 3 children. Because her father had died the year before her husband, she needed to support herself and her family. By 1393 she was writing love ballads which caught the attention of wealthy patrons within the court. He career as a writer was launched and she became a prolific writer.

Her involvement in the production of her books and her skillful use of patronage in turbulent political times earned her the title of the first professional woman of letters in Europe.