Gabriel Hanotaux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriel Hanotaux
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Portrait of Gabriel Hanotaux
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| Born | 19 November 1853 Beaurevoir, France |
| Died | 11 April 1944 (aged 90) Paris, France |
| Occupation | Historian |
Albert Auguste Gabriel Hanotaux, known as Gabriel Hanotaux (born November 19, 1853 – died April 11, 1944), was an important French statesman (a leader in government) and historian. He was known for his work in both politics and writing about history.
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About Gabriel Hanotaux
Gabriel Hanotaux was born in a town called Beaurevoir in France. He loved history and studied it at a special school called the École des Chartes. Later, he became a teacher there.
Instead of being a regular politician who belongs to a party, he worked as a civil servant. This means he worked for the government in different roles. In 1879, he started working for the French foreign affairs ministry, which handles relationships with other countries. He slowly moved up in the diplomatic service, which is like being a country's representative to other nations.
His Time in Politics
In 1886, Gabriel Hanotaux was chosen to represent his home area, Aisne, in the French government. However, he lost his re-election in 1889. After that, he went back to working in diplomacy.
On May 31, 1894, he was asked to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This was a very important job, as he was in charge of France's dealings with the rest of the world. He held this position until June 14, 1898, with a short break.
During his time as minister, he worked to make France and Russia closer friends. He even visited Saint Petersburg with the French president, Félix Faure. He also tried to set clear borders for French colonies in Africa by making agreements with the British.
The Fashoda Incident
One of the most famous events during his time as minister was the Fashoda Incident in July 1898. This was a tense moment when French and British forces met in Africa, almost leading to a conflict. This event made Hanotaux trust England less, which you can see in some of his later writings.
Later Life and Contributions
Gabriel Hanotaux was recognized for his intelligence and work. On April 1, 1897, he was elected as a member of the Académie française. This is a very respected group in France that protects the French language and culture.
He also represented France at the League of Nations, an organization created after World War I to promote peace. He attended several meetings between 1920 and 1923.
Esperanto and French Language
In the early 1920s, there was a discussion at the League of Nations about making Esperanto a working language. Esperanto is a language created to be easy for people from different countries to learn and use. Most delegates supported the idea, but Gabriel Hanotaux was the only one against it.
France used its power to stop the proposal. Hanotaux was worried that if Esperanto became popular, the French language would lose its important role as the main language used in international diplomacy.
Gabriel Hanotaux passed away in Paris in 1944. He was buried in the Passy Cemetery. His former home in Orchaise is now a beautiful botanical garden, called the Parc botanique du Prieuré d'Orchaise.
His Writings
Gabriel Hanotaux was a very busy writer and historian. He wrote many books about French history, especially about the 16th and 17th centuries. He also wrote about famous people like Cardinal Richelieu and Honoré de Balzac.
One of his most important works was a multi-volume book called Histoire de la France contemporaine, 1871-1900, which covered the history of France from 1871 to 1900. He also edited important diplomatic instructions for French ambassadors.
Four volumes of his personal memoirs, called Mon Temps (My Time), were published between 1933 and 1947. These books give insights into his life and the events he witnessed.
See also
In Spanish: Gabriel Hanotaux para niños
