D'Aubigné, THÉODORE AGRIPPA

D'Aubigné, THÉODORE AGRIPPA, a famous French scholar, was born on 8th February 1550, near Pons in Saintonge. At an early period he exhibited a remarkable talent for the acquisition of languages. Although born of a noble family, he inherited no wealth from his father, and consequently chose the military profession. In 1567 he distinguished himself by his services to the Huguenot cause, and was subsequently rewarded by Henry IV., who made him vice-admiral of Guienne and Brittany. His severe and inflexible character frequently embroiled him with the court; and after Henry's assassination (1610), he betook himself to Geneva, where he spent the remainder of his life in literary studies. He died April 29, 1630, leaving a worthless son, Constant, who was father of Madame de Maintenon. D'Aubigné's best-known work is his Histoire Universelle, 1550-1601 (Amsterdam, 1616-20), which had the honour of being burned in France by the common hangman. D'Aubigné was possessed of a spirit of biting satire, as is proved by his Confession Catholique du Sieur de Sancy, and his Aventures du Baron de Fénésté. See his Histoire Secrète, écrite par lui même (1731); also French studies by Réaume (1883) and Morillot (1884).