Gervase of Tilbury

Gervase of Tilbury is a widely travelled cleric, statesman, lawyer and writer who has been employed at the court of Henry II of England, Henry the Young King, and William II of Sicily.
He wrte Liber facetiarum (The Book of Entertainment)¹ for Henry the Young King. He is wtaking notes for another book, as yet untitled.² Since 1189 he has been a judge of canon law in Arles in France.
¹ This work has not survived. It is thought to have been a work of gossip, marvels entertaining stories along the lines of Walter Map's De Nugis Curialium (Courtier's Trifles).
² This will be published as Otia Imperialia (Recreation for an Emperor), which Gervase will write for Roman Emperor Otto IV between 1210 and 1214.

Date of Death

1220

Year of Birth

1150 AD 42 Years old

Birthplace

West Tilbury, Essex