- Pierre Pithou
Pierre Pithou (
November 1 ,1539 –November 1 ,1596 ), was a Frenchlawyer and scholar. He is also known as Petrus Pithoeus.He was born at
Troyes . From childhood he loved literature, and his father Pierre encouraged this interest. Young Pithou was called to theParis bar in 1560. On the outbreak of the second war of religion in 1567, Pithou, who was aCalvinist , withdrew toSedan, France and afterwards toBasel , returning to France on the publication of the edict of pacification. Soon afterwards he accompanied the duc de Montmorency on his embassy toEngland , returning shortly before themassacre of St Bartholomew , in which he narrowly escaped with his life. Next year he followed the example of the futureHenry IV of France by abjuring theProtestant faith.Henry, shortly after his accession to the throne, recognized Pithou's talents and services by giving him various legal appointments. The most important work of his life was his co-operation in the production of the "
Satire Ménippée " (1593), which did so much to damage the cause of the Catholic League; the harangue of the "Sieur d'Aubray" is usually attributed to Pithou. [CathEncy|wstitle=Pierre Pithou] He died at Nogent-sur-Seine. His valuable library, specially rich in manuscripts, was for the most part transferred to what is now theBibliothèque Nationale in Paris.Pithou wrote many legal and historical books, besides preparing editions of several ancient writers. His earliest publication was "Adversariorum subsectorum lib. II." (1565). In 1569, he became the first to publish
Landolfus Sagax ' "Historia Romana", and under the name by which it became better known: "Historia Miscella". Perhaps his edition of the "Leges Visigothorum" (1579) was his most valuable contribution to historical science; in the same line he edited the "Capitula" ofCharlemagne ,Louis the Pious , andCharles the Bald in 1588, and he also assisted his brother François in preparing an edition of the "Corpus juris canonici" (1687). His "Libertés de l'église gallicane" (1594) is reprinted in his "Opera sacra juridica his orica miscellanea collecta" (1609). In classical literature he was the first who made the world acquainted with the "Fables" ofPhaedrus (1596); he also edited the "Pervigilium Veneris " (1587), andSatires of Juvenal andPersius (1585).Three of Pithou's brothers acquired distinction as jurists: Jean, Nicolas; and
François Pithou .References
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