Guillaume-Hyacinthe Bougeant
Encyclopedia
Guillaume-Hyacinthe Bougeant, known as le Père Bougeant (November 4, 1690, Quimper, Brittany
—January 17, 1743, Paris
) was a French Jesuit and historian.
Bougeant entered the Society of Jesus
in 1706, taught classics
in the College of Caen
and Nevers and lived for a number of years in Paris until his death. His Amusement philosophique sur le language des bêtes (Philosophical Amusements on the Language of the Animals), published in 1737, attracted the censure of his superiors, leading to his brief exile from Paris. It was translated into English, Italian, and German.
His historical works on the Thirty Years' War
and on the Treaty of Westphalia
have been regarded as among the best historical books written by Jesuits. They were translated into German. He is also the author of a theological treatise on the form of consecration of the Eucharist
, and of a Catechism divided into three parts, historical, dogmatic, and practical. This catechism
, translated into Italian and German, went through many editions and was still in use in 1900. In his three comedies, Le Femme Docteur, Le Saint déniché, and Les Quakres français he satirizes the Jansenists
. The first of the three went through twenty-five editions in a few months, and was translated into Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Dutch. Between 1725 and 1737 he contributed many articles to the Mémoires de Trévoux.
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
—January 17, 1743, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
) was a French Jesuit and historian.
Bougeant entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
in 1706, taught classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
in the College of Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
and Nevers and lived for a number of years in Paris until his death. His Amusement philosophique sur le language des bêtes (Philosophical Amusements on the Language of the Animals), published in 1737, attracted the censure of his superiors, leading to his brief exile from Paris. It was translated into English, Italian, and German.
His historical works on the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
and on the Treaty of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
have been regarded as among the best historical books written by Jesuits. They were translated into German. He is also the author of a theological treatise on the form of consecration of the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
, and of a Catechism divided into three parts, historical, dogmatic, and practical. This catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, translated into Italian and German, went through many editions and was still in use in 1900. In his three comedies, Le Femme Docteur, Le Saint déniché, and Les Quakres français he satirizes the Jansenists
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
. The first of the three went through twenty-five editions in a few months, and was translated into Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Dutch. Between 1725 and 1737 he contributed many articles to the Mémoires de Trévoux.
External links
-
- His Voyage du Prince Fan-Federin dans la romancie at Project GutenbergProject GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks". Founded in 1971 by Michael S. Hart, it is the oldest digital library. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books...
- His Voyage du Prince Fan-Federin dans la romancie at Project Gutenberg
- Father Bougeant, A Philosophical Amusement Upon the Language of Brutes