Jacques Lafaye facts for kids

Lafaye in 2009

Jacques Lafaye (born March 21, 1930 – died July 8, 2024) was a French historian. He studied the history of culture and religion, especially in Spain and Latin America. His most famous book is Quetzalcoatl and Guadalupe, written in 1974. This book helps us understand how Mexican national identity was formed. It is seen as a very important book for learning about modern Mexican culture and the country's colonial past.

About Jacques Lafaye

Jacques Lafaye was born in Paris, France, on March 21, 1930. He spent many years studying the history of Spain and Latin America. His book, Quetzalcoatl and Guadalupe: The Formation of Mexican National Consciousness, became a key book for understanding Mexico's history during the time it was a colony.

This important book was first published in Paris in 1974. Later, it was printed in the United States and Mexico. It helped many people understand how Spanish and ancient Mexican cultures blended together. Lafaye also wrote about the history of culture in general, including old Greek traditions and the early days of printing. He passed away on July 8, 2024, at the age of 94.

Lafaye's Career Highlights

Jacques Lafaye had a long and impressive career in academics. Here are some of his key roles and achievements:

• He earned his degrees in Spanish language and literature between 1951 and 1953.
• From 1959 to 1968, he worked as an assistant professor at the Institute of Advanced Latin American Studies in Paris.
• He was also an assistant professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris from 1960 to 1962.
• From 1964 to 1968, he was a professor at the University of Strasbourg and directed its Spanish and Portuguese Institute.
• He served as the General Secretary of the Society of Americanists in Paris and edited their journal from 1964 to 1977.
• After earning his highest doctorate degree in 1971, he became a full professor at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, where he taught from 1972 to 1990.
• He also directed the Institute of Iberian and Latin American Studies at the Sorbonne from 1985 to 1988.
• Later in his career, he became a professor and researcher at El Colegio de Jalisco in Mexico.
• He was a member of Mexico's National System of Researchers (SNI) from 2000 to 2020.

Visiting Professor Roles

Jacques Lafaye was invited to teach at many universities around the world. This shows how respected his work was internationally. Some of the places he visited as a professor include:

• The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in 1960.
• Brown University in the United States in 1964.
• The University of California, Berkeley in 1973.
• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C. in 1977 and 1989.
• The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton from 1980 to 1981.
• Harvard University in 1991.
• The Universidad Complutense de Madrid in 1992.
• The Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico in 1996.
• The Universidad de Puerto Rico in 2000.

He was also a guest speaker at the Cátedra Julio Cortázar at the University of Guadalajara in 1995, invited by famous writers Carlos Fuentes and Gabriel García Márquez.

Awards and Honors

Jacques Lafaye received many awards and honors throughout his life for his important contributions to history and culture:

• He won several special prizes, including the Prix Lugné Poë (1949), Prix du duc de Loubat (1974), and Prix Becucci (1976).
• He became an Associate Member of the Royal Academy of History in Madrid, Spain, in 1980.
• He was also made an Associate Member of the Royal Spanish Academy in Madrid in 1981.
• In 1985, he was honored as a Commander of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic by Spain.
• France recognized him as a Commander of the Order of Palmes académiques in 1994.
• In 1998, he was made a Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d’honneur, one of France's highest honors.
• Mexico awarded him the Insignia of Aguila Azteca (Aztec Eagle) in 2006, which is one of the highest honors Mexico gives to foreigners.

See also

In Spanish: Jacques Lafaye para niños