Étienne Pasquier facts for kids
Étienne Pasquier (born June 7, 1529 – died September 1, 1615) was a very smart French lawyer and writer. He was born in Paris and became a lawyer in 1549.
In 1558, Étienne got very sick from eating poisonous mushrooms. It took him two years to get better! During his recovery, he started writing. In 1560, he published the first part of his famous book, Recherches de la France.
Six years later, in 1565, Étienne became well-known. He gave a powerful speech in court, defending the University of Paris against a group called the Jesuits. He won the case, which made him quite famous! He kept working on his Recherches and other writings over the years.
Étienne also worked in special traveling courts called Grands Jours. These courts helped solve important problems, especially when powerful people were being unfair. He worked at these courts in Poitiers in 1579 and Troyes in 1583. He even wrote some fun poems about a flea during his time there, showing his playful side!
In 1585, King Henry III gave Étienne a very important job. He became a top lawyer for the Paris cours des comptes, which was a powerful group dealing with money and law. In this role, he bravely fought against the unfair system of selling important jobs and positions.
During the civil wars in France, Étienne had to leave Paris for a few years and lived in Tours. He kept working on his big book. When the wars ended, he returned to Paris in 1594 with King Henry IV. He continued his important work until 1604, when he retired. Étienne lived for more than ten years after retiring, writing many more books, and passed away on September 1, 1615.
Étienne Pasquier wrote many important works, but they have never all been put together in one collection. His main writings include his Recherches, his many letters, and his speeches from court. His letters are very helpful for learning about his life and the history of his time. His Recherches is a huge collection of information about French literature, politics, and history.
Recherches de la France
Étienne Pasquier's historical book, Recherches de la France, was very important for its time. He tried to write about the past in a way that was accurate and helpful for France, which was going through tough times.
He often used original documents and old writings to make sure his information was correct. Unlike many other writers then, Étienne wanted to show what France was truly like through its customs and culture.
He started his story not from the very beginning of human history, but from the early days of France with the Gauls. He wanted to show that France's history was just as great as Rome's. He also respected French literature and ways of doing things, instead of only praising Roman ideas.
See also
In Spanish: Étienne Pasquier para niños
- Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris
