Jacques Auguste de Thou
A French magistrate whose monumental history of his own time became a foundational text for European scholarship and intellectual freedom.
1553–1617 (age 64)·French historian·Birthday: October 8
Biography
Jacques Auguste de Thou served as a high-ranking judge during France's 16th-century religious wars. He assembled one of Europe's largest private collections of books and manuscripts. This library supported his major work, the 'Historia sui temporis,' a Latin history of his era written with an aim for impartiality. His advocacy for religious tolerance led the Catholic Church to place that history on its Index of Forbidden Books. He left his library to future generations, preserving his reputation as a guardian of knowledge beyond the political conflicts of his time.
#1 When Jacques Was Born
The biggest hits of 1553
Jacques's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1553Born
1558Started school
1566Became a teenager
1569Could drive
1571Could vote
1574Turned 21
1583Turned 30
1593Turned 40
1603Turned 50
1613Turned 60
1617Died at 64
Key Achievements
- Authored the monumental 'Historia sui temporis,' a multi-volume history of late 16th and early 17th century Europe.
- Built the 'Bibliothèque de Thou,' one of the most celebrated private libraries of the Renaissance.
- Served as President of the Parlement of Paris, a key judicial and political role in the French monarchy.
- Was a central figure in the Republic of Letters, maintaining a vast network of correspondence with European intellectuals.
Did You Know?
His personal library contained over 8,000 printed books and 1,000 manuscripts at his death.
He helped arrange the marriage of the philosopher and essayist Michel de Montaigne's daughter.
Despite his Catholic faith, his history was condemned by the Church for its Gallican and moderate views.
He was a close friend and correspondent of the English scientist and writer Francis Bacon.
“I write not for praise, but to leave a true record for future ages.”
