Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)

Siblings – had three siblings

Children – had six daughters, but only one of them survived childhood

## About

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was a French philosopher and writer who is known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. He was born on February 28, 1533, in the Château de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France, and died on September 13, 1592, in the same place. Montaigne's father, Pierre Eyquem, was a minor nobleman who served as a soldier in the armies of King Francis I of France. Montaigne's mother was absent from his life, and he was raised Catholic. Montaigne's most famous work is Les Essais de Michel de Montaigne, which he began working on around 1572 and published in 1580. In his Essays, Montaigne wrote about a wide range of topics, including politics, religion, and justice. He is known for his scepticism and his belief that humans cannot have absolute knowledge. Montaigne was influenced by the humanist poet Étienne de La Boétie, whom he met when he was 24 years old. Montaigne was married in 1565 and had six daughters, five of whom died in infancy. Montaigne was a member of the Bordeaux Parlement and was nominated Gentleman of King Charles IX's Ordinary Chamber in 1571. He received the decoration of the Order of Saint-Michel, a distinction that was exceptional given that Montaigne's lineage was from recent nobility. Montaigne's Essays remain an exceptional historical testimony of the late Renaissance.

## Early Life and Education

Michel de Montaigne was born on February 28, 1533, in the Château de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France. His father, Pierre Eyquem, was a minor nobleman who served as a soldier in the armies of King Francis I. Montaigne's mother is almost absent from his book, Essays. Montaigne was raised Catholic amidst the turbulent religious atmosphere of sixteenth-century France. He received his early education in Latin and Greek from a tutor, and later studied law in Toulouse. Montaigne's views on the education of children were opposed to the common educational practices of his day. He believed in the need for action and playful activities instead of focusing on the ways and means of making the teaching of Latin more effective.

## Career

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was a French essayist, philosopher, and civil servant. He was born in the Château de Montaigne in France and was the first in his family to lead the life of a minor nobleman. Montaigne served as a civil servant in the Bordeaux Parliament and was nominated as a Gentleman of King Charles IX's Ordinary Chamber. He retired from public life in 1570 and devoted his time to reading and writing. Montaigne's Essays established a new literary form, and he wrote about a wide range of topics, including justice, education, and human nature. He was also known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre.

## Personal Life

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was born in the Château de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France. He was born into a wealthy family that owned estates in the Aquitaine region of southern France. Montaigne married Françoise de la Chassaigne in 1565, and they had six daughters, but only one survived infancy. Montaigne's father, Pierre Eyquem, was the first in the family to lead the life of a minor nobleman, living entirely off of his assets and serving as a soldier in the armies of King Francis I. Montaigne was deeply affected by the death of his close friend, Étienne de La Boétie, in 1563. Montaigne's mother is almost totally absent from her son's book, Essays.

## Filmography

One such film is “Montaigne” which is a documentary about his life and work. Another film is “The Life and Work of Michel Eyquem de Montaigne” which is a biographical film about his life. Additionally, there is an animated introduction to Michel de Montaigne available online.

## Quotes

Some of his famous quotes include “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself” and “I am myself the matter of my book”