Louis-Pierre Anquetil
Encyclopedia
Louis-Pierre Anquetil was a French
historian
.
He was born in Paris
. In 1741 he joined the religious community of the Génofévains, where he took holy orders
and became professor of theology
and literature
. Later, he became rector of the seminary at Reims
, where he wrote his Histoire civile et politique de Reims (5 vols., 1756–1757), perhaps his best work. He was then director of the college of Senlis
, where he composed his Esprit de la Ligue, ou histoire politique des troubles de France pendant les XVIe et XVIIe siècles (1767). He also became a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
.
During the Reign of Terror
he was imprisoned at St-Lazare
; there he began his Précis de l'histoire universelle, afterwards published in three volumes. On the establishment of the Institut de France
he was elected a member of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques, and was soon afterwards employed in the office of the ministry of foreign affairs
, profiting by his experience to write his Motifs des guerres et des traités de paix sous Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI.
He is said to have been asked by Napoleon
to write his Histoire de France (14 vols,, 1805), a mediocre compilation at second or third hand, with the assistance of de Mézeray or Paul François Velly (1709–1759). This work, nevertheless, went through numerous editions, and made Anquetil famous. It was continued by Bouillet in 6 more volumes.
His younger brother, Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron
was a famous orientalist
.
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...
historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
.
He was born in 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...
. In 1741 he joined the religious community of the Génofévains, where he took holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
and became professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
. Later, he became rector of the seminary at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where he wrote his Histoire civile et politique de Reims (5 vols., 1756–1757), perhaps his best work. He was then director of the college of Senlis
Senlis, Oise
Senlis is a French commune located in the Oise department near Paris. It has a long and rich heritage, having traversed centuries of history. This medieval town has welcomed some of the most renowned figures in French history, including Hugh Capet, Louis IX, the Marshall of France, Anne of Kiev and...
, where he composed his Esprit de la Ligue, ou histoire politique des troubles de France pendant les XVIe et XVIIe siècles (1767). He also became a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres is a French learned society devoted to the humanities, founded in February 1663 as one of the five academies of the Institut de France.-History:...
.
During the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
he was imprisoned at St-Lazare
Prison Saint-Lazare
The Prison Saint-Lazare was a prison in the Xe arrondissement of Paris, France.-History:Originally a leper hospital founded on the road from Paris to Saint-Denis at the boundary of the marshy area of former Seine river bank in the 12th century, it was ceded on 7 January 1632 to Vincent de Paul and...
; there he began his Précis de l'histoire universelle, afterwards published in three volumes. On the establishment of the Institut de France
Institut de France
The Institut de France is a French learned society, grouping five académies, the most famous of which is the Académie française.The institute, located in Paris, manages approximately 1,000 foundations, as well as museums and chateaux open for visit. It also awards prizes and subsidies, which...
he was elected a member of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques, and was soon afterwards employed in the office of the ministry of foreign affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs (France)
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs ), is France's foreign affairs ministry, with the headquarters located on the Quai d'Orsay in Paris close to the National Assembly of France. The Minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the government of France is the cabinet minister responsible for...
, profiting by his experience to write his Motifs des guerres et des traités de paix sous Louis XIV, Louis XV, Louis XVI.
He is said to have been asked by Napoleon
Napoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
to write his Histoire de France (14 vols,, 1805), a mediocre compilation at second or third hand, with the assistance of de Mézeray or Paul François Velly (1709–1759). This work, nevertheless, went through numerous editions, and made Anquetil famous. It was continued by Bouillet in 6 more volumes.
His younger brother, Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron
Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron
Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron was the first professional French scholar of Indian culture. He conceived the institutional framework for the new profession. He inspired the founding of the Ecole francaise d'extreme orient a century after his death and, later still, the founding of the...
was a famous orientalist
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
.
Further reading
- The Catholic Encyclopedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01543b.htm