Biography

Very little is known about Paul Petau’s life and work. Native of Orléans, he was a jurist and counselor of the Parlement of Paris. This biography of Paul Petau is based on his status and effect within the Republic of Letters, taking into account his political activity, his sphere of action and his contacts: among them there are some of the most important scholars of the time, such as Nicolas Claude Fabri de Peiresc (1580¬–¬1637), Joseph Justus Scaliger (1540–1609), Isaac Casaubon (1559–1614) and others. Moreover, documents from the French National Archives will show a bit more about his private life: his marriage, his house(s), his economic condition. Finally, the biography also includes an analysis of other books by Petau (in the section Works): in addition to the Portiuncula, he has published De Epocha annorum incarnationis Christi. De Indictionibus. De Variis ab annis Christi supputandi modis (1604) and De Nithardo, Caroli Magni nepote, ac tota ejusdem Nithardi prosapia, Parisius (1613).