Charles-Victor Langlois
Encyclopedia
Charles-Victor Langlois was a French historian and paleographer
, who specialized in the study of the Middle Ages
and taught at the Sorbonne
.
Langlois attended the École Nationale des Chartes
and earned a doctorate in history in 1887. He taught at the University of Douai
before moving to the Sorbonne. He was director of the National Archives of France
from 1913 to 1929.
His 1897 work Introduction aux études historiques, written with Charles Seignobos, is considered one of the first comprehensive manuals discussing the use of scientific techniques in historical research.
Palaeography
Palaeography, also spelt paleography is the study of ancient writing. Included in the discipline is the practice of deciphering, reading, and dating historical manuscripts, and the cultural context of writing, including the methods with which writing and books were produced, and the history of...
, who specialized in the study of the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
and taught at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
.
Langlois attended the École Nationale des Chartes
École Nationale des Chartes
The École Nationale des Chartes is a grand établissement, an elite French university-level educational institution based in Paris. It provides education and training for archivists and librarians and forms part of the University of Paris.-History:...
and earned a doctorate in history in 1887. He taught at the University of Douai
University of Douai
The University of Douai is a former university in Douai, France. With a Middle Ages heritage of scholar activities in Douai, the university was established in 1559 and lectures started in 1562. It closed from 1795 to 1808...
before moving to the Sorbonne. He was director of the National Archives of France
Archives nationales (France)
The Archives nationales preserve the national archives of the French state, apart from the archives of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as these two ministries have their own archive services, the Service historique de la défense and the Archives diplomatiques...
from 1913 to 1929.
His 1897 work Introduction aux études historiques, written with Charles Seignobos, is considered one of the first comprehensive manuals discussing the use of scientific techniques in historical research.
Further reading
- Notice sur la vie et les travaux de Charles-Victor Langlois (1863-1929) par A. Merlin, CRAI, Institut de France, 1949, p. 1394-409.