François Hotman facts for kids

François Hotman on his deathbed, after Joos van Winghe

François Hotman (born August 23, 1524 – died February 12, 1590) was an important French lawyer and writer. He was a Protestant, a Christian who was not Catholic. He is known for being part of groups like the legal humanists and the monarchomaques. These groups worked against the idea of an absolute monarchy, where a king or queen has total power. Some people call him "one of the first modern revolutionaries" because of his ideas.

Early Life and Education

François Hotman was born in Paris, France, on August 23, 1524. He was the oldest son of Pierre Hotman, a well-known lawyer. His family was one of the most important legal families in France at that time.

His father, Pierre, was a strong Catholic and wanted François to become a lawyer. So, at age fifteen, François went to the University of Orléans. He finished his law degree in just three years and then returned to Paris.

Becoming a Professor

François Hotman did not enjoy working as a regular lawyer. Instead, he became interested in the study of law and literature. In 1546, he started teaching Roman Law at the University of Paris.

He was deeply moved by the bravery of Anne Dubourg, a Protestant who was tortured for his beliefs. This event made Hotman decide to join the Protestant movement, known as the Reformation.

Life as a Protestant Refugee

In 1547, François Hotman left his successful career in Paris and moved to Lyon. In 1548, he married Claude Aubelin in Bourges. Both he and Claude were refugees because of their Protestant faith.

Later that year, he moved to Geneva to work as a secretary for John Calvin, a famous Protestant leader. In 1550, he became a professor of literature and history at the University of Lausanne. He became a citizen of Geneva in 1553.

Teaching and Political Missions

Hotman's reputation grew, and he was invited to teach law in Strasbourg in 1555. He became a full professor there in 1556. His fame was so widespread that even Elizabeth I of England showed interest in him.

He traveled to Germany several times, sometimes with Calvin. He also carried secret messages for Huguenot leaders (French Protestants) to powerful German rulers. He even had credentials from Catherine de' Medici, the Queen Mother of France.

Involvement in French Politics

In 1560, Hotman was involved in the Amboise conspiracy, a plan by Huguenots against the French king. He worked closely with important Huguenot leaders like Antoine of Navarre and Louis, Prince of Condé.

He became a professor of civil law at Valence in 1564. In 1567, he took over a law professorship at Bourges.

Escaping Persecution

Just five months after moving to Bourges, a Catholic mob attacked his home and destroyed his library. He had to flee to Paris. Later, he was sent to Blois to help negotiate a peace treaty in 1568.

He returned to Bourges, but fighting broke out again. During the siege of Sancerre, he wrote his Consolatio, a comforting work. In 1570, peace allowed him to return to Bourges. However, he had to flee for a third time during the terrible massacre of St Bartholomew in 1572.

In 1572, François Hotman and his family left France for good and settled in Geneva. He became a professor of Roman law there. He published his most famous work, Franco-Gallia, in 1573.

Later Life and Death

Hotman moved to Basel in 1579 to avoid the duke of Savoy. In 1580, he became a state advisor to Henry of Navarre, who would later become King of France.

In 1582, an outbreak of the Bubonic plague forced him to move to Montbéliard, where his wife Claude passed away in 1583. He returned to Geneva in 1584. He also became interested in alchemy, trying to find the philosopher's stone.

In 1585, he joined King Henry's Privy Council. He finally retired to Basel in 1589, where he died on February 12, 1590. He was buried in the cathedral and left behind two sons and four daughters.

Important Writings

François Hotman was a very religious and family-loving man. He moved often, not just for his own safety, but for his family's. He greatly improved the study of law in the 16th century. He had a deep understanding of Roman law and wrote in excellent Latin. He even suggested creating a national code of French law.

He wrote many books, starting with De gradibus cognationis (1546). Other works include:

• A book about the Eucharist (1566).
• Anti-Tribonian (1567), which argued that French law should not be based only on the laws of Justinian I.
• A biography of Gaspard II de Coligny (1575).
• Brutum fulmen (1585), a strong argument against a papal bull (a special order from the Pope) by Pope Sixtus V.

Franco-Gallia

His most important book was Franco-Gallia (1573). This book was not popular with either Catholics or Protestants at the time, unless it helped their own goals. However, it became as famous as Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Contrat Social later on.

Franco-Gallia presented an Ideal of Protestant statesmanship. It argued for a representative government, where people elect their leaders, and an elective monarchy, where the king is chosen rather than inheriting the throne. This book was even used by the Jesuits in their arguments against Henry IV of France.

Family Life

François Hotman had seven children with his wife, Claude:

• Jean Hotman, Marquis de Villers-St-Paul, who died in 1634. He married Renée de St-Martin.
• Theages, who died in 1582.
• Daniel, a priest, who died in 1634.
• Marie, born in 1558 in Strasbourg.
• Pierre, born in 1563, who became a counselor to the King.
• Suzanne, who first married John Menteith of Scotland, and then Antoine d'Ailleboust. Their son, Louis d'Ailleboust de Coulonge, became the governor of New France (part of Canada today) from 1648 to 1651.
• Theodora, who married Jean Burquenon.

See also

In Spanish: François Hotman para niños

• Monarchomaques