Philippe de Commines was a writer and diplomat in Burgundy and France in the later fifteenth century. Philip the Good of Burgundy was his godfather, and Commines held high office in the court of his successor, Charles the Bold. He defected to the court of Louis XI of France in 1472 and became one of his most trusted advisors (chiefly due to his knowledge of the court of Burgundy). He was imprisoned and then placed under house arrest from 1487 after the death of Louis and the regency thereafter (before the majority of Charles VIII). It was during this period that he began to write his Memoires (a title not given to them until 1552; they wee first published in 1524).

This work was written in two parts – the first describing his career up to the death of Louis XI, the second ending with the death of Charles VIII of France – though usually published as one complete text. It has the distinction of being the only French language text never to have gone out of print. The work is considered historical important for its portrayal of people and events from England, France, Burgundy, Germany and Italy from the second half of the fifteenth century.