French Origin Epic Novel Detailing the Exploits of Vercingétorix
In the heart of Paris, on the 26th of December, 1714, a young scholar named Nicolas Fréet found himself at the foot of the Bastille. The peaceful atmosphere echoed the day after Christmas, but the tranquility was about to be disrupted.
The arrival of Nicolas Fréet, a 26-year-old son of a prosecutor at the Paris Parliament, was accompanied by a letter of cachet, signed by the king's own hand. This letter signified that the young man was to be imprisoned in the Bastille.
Nicolas Fréet was a student at the Académie des inscriptions, a prestigious institution for scholars and historians. However, his admission had not been without controversy. In his first session, he presented a memoir arguing for the Germanic, not Trojan, origins of the Frankish people, a claim that provoked the anger of Abbé René Aubert de Vertot, who denounced him for "offense to the monarchy."
Nicolas Fréet's imprisonment was primarily due to his involvement in political and scholarly controversies related to his critical writings. Known for his critical examination of historical and political topics, he was considered a threat to public order and the monarchy's authority during the reign of Louis XIV. His association with the "délices de la République," a circle of thinkers and critics skeptical of the absolute monarchy, further fueled the authorities' concerns.
During his six-month stay in the Bastille, Nicolas Fréet dedicated his time to studying the work of the Greek historian and philosopher Xenophon. The imprisonment served as a reflection for him, teaching him the lesson that one should not lightly discuss the barbarian origins of France.
The governor of the Bastille during Nicolas Fréet's imprisonment was Charles Le Fournier de Bernaville. The arrival of a new prisoner was signaled by a bell ringing from the Bastille, marking another chapter in the life of this young scholar.
This incident, taking place during the 62nd year of Louis XIV's reign, serves as a reminder of the political and scholarly climate of early 18th-century France, where critical views could lead to imprisonment and where the absolute monarchy held a tight rein on dissenting voices.
- Despite his studies at the Académie des inscriptions, a prestigious education-and-self-development institution, Nicolas Fréet's critical writings on historical and political topics led to his imprisonment in the Bastille, indicating the tight control the absolute monarchy exercised over dissenting voices.
- Although his time in the Bastille was initially a disruption to his learning and self-development, Nicolas Fréet dedicated his six-month imprisonment to studying the work of the Greek historian and philosopher Xenophon, using it as a learning opportunity to reflect on the consequences of discussing controversial topics.
