Laurent d'Arvieux
Encyclopedia
Laurent d'Arvieux was a French traveller and diplomat born in Marseille
.
He is known for his travels in the Middle East
, which began in 1654 as a merchant in the Ottoman
port of Smyrna
. From 1658 he travelled throughout the Levant
(Lebanon, Syria and Palestine) and in 1666 visited Tunis
. Later he returned to France, and in 1674-75 was assigned as consul
to Algiers
, then later served as consul to Aleppo
from 1679 to 1686.
During his travels he was witness to 17th century Arab and Turkish societies, and gained important insight involving all facets of their culture and customs. He also familiarized himself with the languages of the region, and learned to speak Arabic, Turkish
, Persian
, Hebrew and Syriac languages. Because of his knowledge of Turkish manners and dress he collaborated with Molière
on the development of Le Bourgeois gentilhomme
.
At the time of his death, he left behind a manuscript of his memoirs, a portion of which was edited by Jean de la Roque
(1661–1745) and published in 1717 as Voyage dans la Palestine. Later Arvieux's memoirs were edited and published in their entirety by Jean-Baptiste Labat
(1663-1738) as Mémoires du chevalier d'Arvieux (6 volumes, 1735).
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
.
He is known for his travels in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, which began in 1654 as a merchant in the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
port of Smyrna
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
. From 1658 he travelled throughout the Levant
Levant
The Levant or ) is the geographic region and culture zone of the "eastern Mediterranean littoral between Anatolia and Egypt" . The Levant includes most of modern Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and sometimes parts of Turkey and Iraq, and corresponds roughly to the...
(Lebanon, Syria and Palestine) and in 1666 visited Tunis
Tunis
Tunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
. Later he returned to France, and in 1674-75 was assigned as consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
to Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, then later served as consul to Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
from 1679 to 1686.
During his travels he was witness to 17th century Arab and Turkish societies, and gained important insight involving all facets of their culture and customs. He also familiarized himself with the languages of the region, and learned to speak Arabic, Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
, Hebrew and Syriac languages. Because of his knowledge of Turkish manners and dress he collaborated with Molière
Molière
Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered to be one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature...
on the development of Le Bourgeois gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Le Bourgeois gentilhomme is a five-act comédie-ballet—a play intermingled with music, dance and singing—by Molière, first presented on 14 October 1670 before the court of Louis XIV at the Château of Chambord by Molière's troupe of actors...
.
At the time of his death, he left behind a manuscript of his memoirs, a portion of which was edited by Jean de la Roque
Jean de la Roque
Jean de la Roque was a French traveller and journalist born in Marseille. He was the son of Pierre de la Roque, a merchant who his remembered for introducing coffee to Marseille in 1644, and the brother of Antoine de la Roque , a noted journalist with whom he collaborated with on the magazine...
(1661–1745) and published in 1717 as Voyage dans la Palestine. Later Arvieux's memoirs were edited and published in their entirety by Jean-Baptiste Labat
Jean-Baptiste Labat
Jean-Baptiste Labat was a French clergyman, botanist, writer, explorer, ethnographer, soldier, engineer, and landowner.-Life:...
(1663-1738) as Mémoires du chevalier d'Arvieux (6 volumes, 1735).