http://www.chateau-grandson.ch/en/othon3.html

Othon III de Grandson: A Knight and Poet of international Renown

A great great nephew of Othon I, born around 1340-45, he lived during the Hundred Years War on the side of his spouse, Jeanne Allaman, Dame de Duin. He was a close aide to the younger Amadeus VII, Count of Savoie, and his Overlord. When the latter fell from his horse in 1391 and died from the injuries, it was assumed that he had actually been poisoned. Among those accused, by a doctor forced to speak under torture, was Othon III, who then fled to England to seek the King’s protection.

Having served the King with much bravery, the English royal court appointed Othon III as captain. During this exile Othon III wrote many verses on the subject of Saint Valentine, which were favourably commented upon by his contemporary, Geoffrey Chaucer and by Christine de Pisan.

The cult and writing on Saint Valentine was widespread in the Anglo-Saxon world, but Othon III is credited as one of the first to import this custom to the Latin world. About 30 percent of his work concentrates on Saint Valentine and includes titles, such as La Complainte de Saint Valentin. La complainte amoureuse de Sainct Valentin Gransson, Le Souhait de Saint Valentin, Le Songe Saint Valentin, and his Ballades.

After his return to the Vaud, Othon III wished to recuperate his properties and clear his name. A duel was arranged in 1397 against the odious Gérard d’Estavayer, which ended fatally for Othon.

The Counts of Savoie then confiscated all the properties of the deceased and passed them on to the Sires of Chalon. Louis de Chalon did effect considerable alterations to Château de Grandson, by ameliorating the Corps du Sud and the defences.

Source: Partly based on Wikipedia.

Some Verses from the Ballade de Saint-Valentin: Je vous choisy, noble loyal ymour, Je vous choisy, souveraine plaisance, Je vous choisy, gracieuse doulcour, Je vous choisy, très douce souffisance, Je vous choisy de toute ma puissance, Je vous choisy de cuer entier et vrai, Je vous choisy par tele convenaince Que nulle autre jamais ne choisiray

Bibliography:

• Kosta-Théfaine, Jean-François, Othon de Grandson, chevalier et poète, Éditions Paradigme, Medievalia, 2007
• Exposition, La Maison de Savoy en Pays de Vaud, éd. Bernard Andenmatten et Daniel de Raemy, Lausanne, 1990
• Schirer, G. Ludwig, Oton de Granson und seine Dichtungen, Strasbourg, 1904
• Piaget, Arthur, Oton de Grandson, sa vie et ses poésies, Lausanne, 1941
• Cunningham, Caroline A., A Critical Edition of the Poetry of Oton de Grandson, Ph. D. dissertation, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1987

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http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00538898&tree=LEO