Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange facts for kids
Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange (born December 18, 1610, in Amiens, France – died October 23, 1688, in Paris), also known as Charles Dufresne, was an important French scholar. He was a philologist, which means he studied languages and their history. He was also a historian who focused on the Middle Ages and the Byzantine Empire.
Life of a Scholar
Charles du Cange was educated by the Jesuits, a religious order known for its schools. He later studied law and worked as a lawyer for several years. After that, he became the Treasurer of France, a very important job.
Even with his busy official duties and a large family, du Cange was a very energetic person. He loved history and spent a lot of time on his studies. He was dedicated to learning about the past.
His Most Famous Work
Du Cange's most important book is called Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis. This long title means "Glossary of medieval and late Latin." It was first published in Paris in 1678. A glossary is like a dictionary, but it focuses on special words or terms.
This book, along with another glossary he wrote about medieval Greek, is still used by scholars today. Du Cange was a pioneer because he showed how Latin and Greek changed over time. He helped start the study of how languages develop through history.
Broad Knowledge
To study medieval and Byzantine history, du Cange became an expert in many languages. He also wrote many letters to other scholars, sharing his knowledge. His deep understanding of history and languages was matched by his knowledge of archaeology, geography, and law.
Besides his famous glossaries, he also edited important books by Byzantine historians. The famous historian Edward Gibbon often mentioned du Cange in his book, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Gibbon called him "our sure and indefatigable guide in the Middle Ages and Byzantine history." This shows how much other scholars respected du Cange's work.
His Works
Here are some of the important works by Charles du Cange:
- Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis: This is his main work, a huge dictionary of medieval and late Latin words. You can find a searchable version online: searchable full-text online edition.
- Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis: You can also see images of the original pages of this work online: images online on the French National Library's website.
- Glossarium mediae et infimae Latinitatis: Another version of this glossary is available online: 7-volume (1840-1850) on the Stanford University Library website.
- Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae Graecitatis: This is his glossary for medieval and late Greek words: Glossarium ad scriptores mediae et infimae Graecitatis from the Digital Library of Modern Greek Studies "Anemi", University of Crete, Greece.
- Les Familles d'Outremer: This book is about the families who lived in the Crusader states: Les Familles d'Outremer at the Internet Archive.
See also
In Spanish: Charles du Fresne, señor Du Cange para niños
