- Pierre Matthieu
Pierre Matthieu (
Pesmes in theHaute-Saône , 1563 -Toulouse , 1621) was a French writer, poet, historian and dramatist.Biography
Pierre Matthieu studied under the Jesuits and mastered Latin, Ancient Greek and Hebrew. At the age of 19, he served his father as adjunct at the Collège of Vercel (in the
Doubs ) and it was there that his tragedy "Esther" (published in Lyon in 1585) was performed by the students. He studied law atValence , received his doctorat in 1586 and became a lawyer at the Présidial Court ofLyon .Although he had expresed his attachment to the
House of Guise and the Catholic League, he was among those chosen and sent by the inhabitants of Lyon to Henry IV in February 1594 to assure the new king of their fidelity. With the king having visited the city the year before, Matthieu was put in charge of organizing the ceremonies of the royal reception. Subsequently, he moved toParis and, with the protection ofPierre Jeannin , he became historiograph. He was esteemed by the royal court and enjoyed special access to Henry IV.He fell ill accompanying Louis XIII at the siege of
Montauban and died in Toujouse at the age of 58.Works
Pierre Matthieu wrote five tragedies:
* "Clytemnestre" (1578) - the story ofClytemnestra
* "Esther" (1581) - the story ofEsther
* "Vashti" (1589) - the story ofVashti
* "Aman, de la perfidie" (1589) - the story of Haman
* "La Guisiade" (1589) - an attack of Henry III and justification of his assassination.The five tragedies of Matthieu sought — despite their use of Biblical or ancient stories (other than "La Guisade") — to explore contemporary issues of the
French Wars of Religion and to justify the noble defense of religion; the tragedies' heroes were generally allegorical representations ofHenry I, Duke of Guise .As poet, he published "Tablettes de la vie et de la mort" and "Quatrains de la vie et de la mort".
His novels, "La Magicienne", "Aelius Sejanus" and "La Femme Cathenoise" were hostile to
Concini and his wife.He also wrote several works of history and royal historiography.
References
*"This article is based on the equivalent article from the
French Wikipedia , consulted onOctober 30 ,2007 ."
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