Robert Knecht
Encyclopedia
Robert Jean Knecht is a historian, an expert on 16th century France
, Emeritus Professor of French history at the University of Birmingham
, where he taught during 1956–1994.
The only child of French parents living in London, he was educated at the French Lycée in London and the Salesian College, Farnborough. He graduated at King's College London in 1948 and qualified as a teacher in 1949. In 1953 he was awarded the M.A. degree of London university for which he submitted a thesis on Cardinal John Morton and his episcopal colleagues. He was then employed by a firm of industrial designers to collect and exhibit old prints and to write explanatory booklets for three theme pubs in London. In 1954 he carried out research on MPs in the Cinque Ports for the early Tudor volume of the History of Parliament and wrote the chapter on schools in Salisbury during the nineteenth century for the Victoria County History. Though trained as a medieval historian, he was appointed in 1956 as assistant-lecturer in early modern history at the University of Birmingham where he has chosen to remain for the rest of his professional career. In 1984 he was awarded the degree of D. Litt (Birmingham). His earliest book was The Voyage of Sir Nicholas Carewe published in 1959 by Cambridge University Press for the Roxburghe Club.
In the 1950s Knecht travelled widely in Europe, often cycling, as tour leader for the Students' International Travel Association, based in the U.S.A. and the Ramblers' Association.In 1970 he turned his attention to French history in the sixteenth century and began research on the reign of the French king Francis I
, producing the first serious work in English on that king in 1982. This he revised completely for the king's 500th anniversary in 1994. Since then he has published some twenty books on early modern French history.
In 1977 Knecht formed a close association with a group of French art historians led by André Chastel
and Jean Guillaume, taking part in several of their summer schools. In May 1994 he was Visiting Fellow of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
in Paris. In 2001 he became a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes académiques.Promoted to the rank of Officier in August 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
, an elected member of the Société de l'Histoire de France and is a co-founder and former Chairman of the Society for the Study of French History (1994–97) and of the Society for Renaissance Studies
(1989–92).
Knecht's 2008 book, The French Renaissance Court, has been awarded the Enid McLeod Prize of the Franco-Britrish Society for 2009. His recreations are listening to classical music, visiting art galleries and historic houses, architecture, travel and photography.
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...
, Emeritus Professor of French history at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, where he taught during 1956–1994.
The only child of French parents living in London, he was educated at the French Lycée in London and the Salesian College, Farnborough. He graduated at King's College London in 1948 and qualified as a teacher in 1949. In 1953 he was awarded the M.A. degree of London university for which he submitted a thesis on Cardinal John Morton and his episcopal colleagues. He was then employed by a firm of industrial designers to collect and exhibit old prints and to write explanatory booklets for three theme pubs in London. In 1954 he carried out research on MPs in the Cinque Ports for the early Tudor volume of the History of Parliament and wrote the chapter on schools in Salisbury during the nineteenth century for the Victoria County History. Though trained as a medieval historian, he was appointed in 1956 as assistant-lecturer in early modern history at the University of Birmingham where he has chosen to remain for the rest of his professional career. In 1984 he was awarded the degree of D. Litt (Birmingham). His earliest book was The Voyage of Sir Nicholas Carewe published in 1959 by Cambridge University Press for the Roxburghe Club.
In the 1950s Knecht travelled widely in Europe, often cycling, as tour leader for the Students' International Travel Association, based in the U.S.A. and the Ramblers' Association.In 1970 he turned his attention to French history in the sixteenth century and began research on the reign of the French king Francis I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
, producing the first serious work in English on that king in 1982. This he revised completely for the king's 500th anniversary in 1994. Since then he has published some twenty books on early modern French history.
In 1977 Knecht formed a close association with a group of French art historians led by André Chastel
André Chastel
André Chastel was a French art historian, author of an important work on the Italian Renaissance....
and Jean Guillaume, taking part in several of their summer schools. In May 1994 he was Visiting Fellow of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales
The École des hautes études en sciences sociales is a leading French institution for research and higher education, a Grand Établissement. Its mission is research and research training in the social sciences, including the relationship these latter maintain with the natural and life sciences...
in Paris. In 2001 he became a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes académiques.Promoted to the rank of Officier in August 2010. He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
, an elected member of the Société de l'Histoire de France and is a co-founder and former Chairman of the Society for the Study of French History (1994–97) and of the Society for Renaissance Studies
Society for Renaissance Studies
The Society for Renaissance Studies is an academic society whose aim is to provide a forum for all those interested in studying the Renaissance. It pursues this though various meetings and publications and providing this and other support for interdisciplinary teaching and research...
(1989–92).
Knecht's 2008 book, The French Renaissance Court, has been awarded the Enid McLeod Prize of the Franco-Britrish Society for 2009. His recreations are listening to classical music, visiting art galleries and historic houses, architecture, travel and photography.