Origins & Early Life

François de La Rochefoucauld, 2nd Duke of La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac (; French: [fʁɑ̃swa d(ə) la ʁɔʃfuko]; 15 September 1613 – 17 March 1680) was an accomplished French moralist of the era of French Classical literature and author of Maximes and Memoirs, the only two works of his dense literary œuvre published. His Maximes portrays the callous nature of human conduct, with a cynical attitude towards putative virtue and avowals of affection, friendship, love, and loyalty. Born in Paris in 1613, at a time when the royal court was vacillating between aiding the nobility and threatening it, he was considered an exemplar of the accomplished seventeenth-century nobleman. Until 1650, he bore the title of Prince de Marcillac.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His great-grandfather François III, de la Rochefoucauld, was killed in the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, being a Huguenot. François de La Rochefoucauld was born on September 15, 1613, at Rue des Petits Champs (today in Paris's 1st arrondissement). La Rochefoucauld was given the education of a nobleman of his era, which concentrated on military exercises, hunting, court etiquette, elegance of expression and comportment, and a knowledge...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• André Le Nôtre — Contemporary (Born in 1613) (1613): Master French landscape architect, famed for the formal gardens of Versailles.
• Blackbeard — Contemporary (Born in 1680) (1680): Infamous English pirate, Edward Teach, known for his menacing beard and naval raids.
• Gian Lorenzo Bernini — Contemporary (Died in 1680) (1680): Master sculptor and architect who defined the dramatic Baroque style.
• Raimondo Montecuccoli — Contemporary (Died in 1680) (1680): Esteemed Habsburg commander and military theorist of the early modern era.
• Agatha Christie — Shared historical date (09-15 · Born) (1890): The 'Queen of Crime,' a master of the mystery genre, best-selling author of all time.
• Anton Webern — Shared historical date (09-15 · Died) (1945): Radical modernist composer of the Second Viennese School, known for atonal and twelve-tone techniques.
• Daniel Bernoulli — Shared historical date (03-17 · Died) (1782): Swiss mathematician and physicist, known for fluid mechanics and probability.
• Edmund Kean — Shared historical date (03-17 · Born) (1787): A celebrated but controversial Shakespearean actor of the early 19th century.
• Shivaji — Historical peer (Died in 1680) (1680): Founder of the Maratha Empire, Shivaji I established a powerful Hindu polity.
• John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough — Historical peer (Born in 1650) (1650): British statesman and military genius, famed for the Duke of Marlborough.
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