Joseph of Exeter was a 12th-century English Latin poet who emerged from the quiet streets of Exeter, England. He is known for his surviving correspondence with Guibert and his major literary works including De bello Troiano.
Most of the poem De bello Troiano or On the Trojan War was written before the 1st of January 1183 according to scholarly consensus. The final book was completed after the 1st of January 1184 indicating a multi-year effort spanning several years.
Around 1180 he departed his hometown of Exeter to pursue studies at Gueldres. This journey marked the beginning of a significant chapter in his life where he formed a lifelong bond with Guibert.
Archbishop Baldwin set off for the Holy Land on the Third Crusade around 1190 and persuaded Joseph to accompany him on this dangerous pilgrimage. Baldwin died during the campaign in 1190 leaving Joseph without his patron so he returned home alone.
Only fragments of the poem titled Antiocheis survive today because no complete copy remains in any known library or archive. The text appears to have been written after Baldwin's death in 1190 and these remnants offer glimpses into how he processed the loss of his mentor.