Guillaume Amfrye de Chaulieu
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Amfrye de Chaulieu (1639 – June 27, 1720), French
poet
and wit, was born at Fontenay
, Normandy
.
His father, maître des comptes of Rouen, sent him to study at the Collège de Navarre
. Guillaume early showed the wit that was to distinguish him, and gained the favor of the duke of Vendôme, who procured for him the abbey of Aumale and other benefices. Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme
, and his brother Philippe, grand prior of the Knights of Malta in France, at that time had a joint establishment at the Temple, where they gathered round them a very gay and reckless circle.
Chaulieu became the constant companion and adviser of the two princes. He made an expedition to Poland
in the suite of the marquis de Béthune, hoping to make a career for himself in the court of John Sobieski; he saw one of the Polish king's campaigns in Ukraine
, but returned to Paris without securing any advancement. Saint-Simon
says that the abbé helped his patron the grand prior to rob the duke of Vendôme, and that the king sent orders that the princes should take the management of their affairs from him. This account has been questioned by Sainte-Beuve
, who regards Saint-Simon as a prejudiced witness.
In his later years Chaulieu spent much time at the little court of the duchesse du Maine at Sceaux. There he became the trusted and devoted friend of Mlle Delaunay
, with whom he carried on an interesting correspondence. Among his poems the best known are Fontenay and La Retraite.
His works were edited with those of his friend the marquis de la Fare in 1714, 1750 and 1774. See also CA Sainte-Beuve
, Causeries du lundi, vol. i.; and Lettres inédites (1850), with a notice by Raymond, marquis de Bérenger.
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France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and wit, was born at Fontenay
Fontenay
Fontenay can refer to:a person*Charles L. Fontenay, journalist and science-fiction writer*Jean-Baptiste Belin de Fontenay I, French paintera battle* Battle of Fontenay , during the Carolingian civil war...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
.
His father, maître des comptes of Rouen, sent him to study at the Collège de Navarre
Collège de Navarre
The College of Navarre was one of the colleges of the historic University of Paris, rivaling the Sorbonne and renowned for its library. It was founded by Queen Joan I of Navarre in 1305, who provided for three departments, the arts with 20 students, philosophy with 30 and theology with 20...
. Guillaume early showed the wit that was to distinguish him, and gained the favor of the duke of Vendôme, who procured for him the abbey of Aumale and other benefices. Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme
Louis Joseph, duc de Vendôme
Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme was a French military commander during the War of the Grand Alliance and War of the Spanish Succession, Marshal of France.-Biography:...
, and his brother Philippe, grand prior of the Knights of Malta in France, at that time had a joint establishment at the Temple, where they gathered round them a very gay and reckless circle.
Chaulieu became the constant companion and adviser of the two princes. He made an expedition to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in the suite of the marquis de Béthune, hoping to make a career for himself in the court of John Sobieski; he saw one of the Polish king's campaigns in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, but returned to Paris without securing any advancement. Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy, duc de Saint-Simon
Louis de Rouvroy commonly known as Saint-Simon was a French soldier, diplomatist and writer of memoirs, was born in Paris...
says that the abbé helped his patron the grand prior to rob the duke of Vendôme, and that the king sent orders that the princes should take the management of their affairs from him. This account has been questioned by Sainte-Beuve
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve was a literary critic and one of the major figures of French literary history.-Early years:...
, who regards Saint-Simon as a prejudiced witness.
In his later years Chaulieu spent much time at the little court of the duchesse du Maine at Sceaux. There he became the trusted and devoted friend of Mlle Delaunay
Marguerite De Launay, Baronne Staal
Marguerite Jeanne Cordier de Launay, baronne de Staal was a French author.-Life:De Launay was born in Paris. Her father was a painter named Cordier. He seems to have deserted her mother, who then resumed her maiden name, de Launay, which was also adopted by her daughter...
, with whom he carried on an interesting correspondence. Among his poems the best known are Fontenay and La Retraite.
His works were edited with those of his friend the marquis de la Fare in 1714, 1750 and 1774. See also CA Sainte-Beuve
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve
Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve was a literary critic and one of the major figures of French literary history.-Early years:...
, Causeries du lundi, vol. i.; and Lettres inédites (1850), with a notice by Raymond, marquis de Bérenger.
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