Famous French Historians

French diplomat and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville is best remembered for his written works The Old Regime and the Revolution and Democracy in America. He was part of French politics, primarily during the July Monarchy and the Second Republic. He had been the minister of foreign affairs briefly.

Fernand Braudel was a French historian who led a group of historians who were associated with the Annales School. Braudel is credited with popularizing the school in France. As the leader of the school during the 1950s and 1960s, Braudel had a major influence on historical writings around the world. He is also counted among the forefathers of world-systems theory.

Gilles Deleuze was a French philosopher who wrote extensively on philosophy, film, fine art, and literature. Widely regarded as one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Deleuze's works have influenced a wide range of disciplines, such as philosophy, literary theory, and art. His work has also influenced movements like postmodernism and post-structuralism.

French social psychologist Gustave Le Bon is best remembered for his research on crowd psychology. In his iconic work La psychologie des foules, or The Crowd, he stated that people are driven by their emotions and not by their intellect when they act as part of a crowd.

Jules Michelet was a French author and historian best remembered for his work on the history and culture of France. Jules Michelet is credited with defining the term renaissance, which was originally used by Italian historian and painter Giorgio Vasari in 1550. The term is currently used to identify the period that followed the Middle Ages in Europe's cultural history.

Georges Sorel was a French political theorist, social thinker, journalist, and historian. He is credited with inspiring Sorelianism, a support system for his ideologies. Georges Sorel is also credited with inspiring several socialists, Fascists, Marxists, and anarchists. In 1891, Georges Sorel was honored with the prestigious Légion d'honneur.

Germaine de Staël was a French political theorist and woman of letters. She is best remembered for her collaboration with the popular  Swiss-French political thinker Benjamin Constant. Germaine, who was way ahead of her time, is widely regarded as a precursor of feminism.

René Girard was a French philosopher of social science, literary critic, and historian. Over the years, Girard's work has had an influence on disciplines like philosophy, anthropology, psychology, mythology, theology, economics, sociology, and cultural studies among other important disciplines. In 2006, René Girard was honored by the University of Tübingen with the prestigious Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize.

Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, and sociologist. He completed his doctorat ès lettres at the University of Paris and had a brilliant academic career. He helped to found the journal Poétique and served as one of its managing editors. He authored many books, including Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. 

Marc Bloch was a French historian and founding member of a group of influential historians, which came to be known as the Annales School. Over the course of his illustrious career, Bloch published many of his works on Medieval France. He also taught at prestigious universities like the University of Strasbourg, the University of Montpellier, and the University of Paris.

Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours. He is mainly known for being the primary contemporary source for Merovingian history. His accounts of the miracles of saints are also considered invaluable. A prolific writer, he spent most of his career in Tours and is considered an outstanding literary figure of the 6th-century Merovingian world. 

Prosper Mérimée was a French writer and one of the pioneers of narrative prose, which came to be known as a novella. A multi-talented personality, Mérimée was also a historian and archaeologist; he played a key role in the development of the process of architectural preservation. He was responsible for safeguarding several historic sites, such as the Cité de Carcassonne. 

Rose Valland was a French art historian and a captain in the French military. She secretly recorded the details of the Nazis destroying and plundering French art and helped to save thousands of works of art by working with the French Resistance. After the war, she began a relationship with Joyce Helen Heer and shared a home with her. 

Abbot Suger was a French abbot, statesman, and historian considered one of the earliest patrons of Gothic architecture. He was born into a humble family and trained at the priory of Saint-Denis de l'Estrée. He started working as the secretary to the abbot of Saint-Denis and later became the abbot. He was also a patron of art. 

Jean-Yves Le Drian is a French politician currently serving as the minister for Europe and foreign affairs. He is a former member of the Socialist Party and has been an independent candidate since 2018. He is credited for creating the new movement Territories of Progress with fellow minister Olivier Dussopt. He is the recipient of several awards and accolades. 

Jean Froissart was a medieval court historian and author who wrote many influential books, such as Chronicles and Meliador. In order to gather first-hand accounts and material for his work Chronicles, Froissart traveled extensively. Jean Froissart’s works also serve as a prominent source for the events that took place during the first phase of the famous Hundred Years' War.

Fred Vargas is a French archaeologist, historian, and novelist. She is best known for her work on the bubonic plague, the Black Death. In 2009, she became the first author to win three International Dagger Awards for three consecutive novels, having won the award in 2006 and 2008. In 2018, she was honored with the prestigious Princess of Asturias Prize.

French socialist and politician Louis Blanc is best remembered for supporting the formation of "social workshops" led by workers. He initially studied law, before he started writing for journals and then eventually launched his own newspaper, Revue du progress, which published his most notable work L’Organisation du travail.

Jacques Le Goff was a French author and historian who specialized in the history of the medieval period. An ardent supporter of the Annales School movement, Le Goff headed the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences from 1972 to 1977. Le Goff was honored with several prestigious awards like Dan David Prize Award and Dr. A.H. Heineken Prize.

Lucien Febvre was a French historian best remembered for playing a major role in the formation of the influential Annales School of history. Along with his friend and colleague Marc Bloch, Lucien Febvre founded a scholarly journal named Annales in 1929, which became associated with their distinctive style of history.

Jacques Barzun was a French-American historian who wrote about a wide range of subjects, including mystery, baseball, and music. He was also a philosopher of education. He worked as a professor of history at Columbia College for many years. He published numerous books, including From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life, 1500 to the Present. 

Georges Duby was a French historian best remembered for his work on the economic and social history of the medieval period. Widely regarded as one of the 20th century's most influential medieval historians, Georges Duby was also considered one of France's most important public intellectuals from the 1970s to his demise in 1996.

Known for his work on French identity and memory, French historian Pierre Nora began his career in Algeria, publishing his first book, The French of Algeria, based on his experience there. Later, he became the director of studies at the École des hautes études en sciences socials. Concurrently, he had a noteworthy career in publishing and also authored numerous books

An ardent advocate of liberal feminism and also of the rights of women migrant workers, Élisabeth Badinter is an eminent French philosopher. Also a prolific author, she has published several works including L'Amour en plus ear, L'un est l'autre and La fausse route, raising contentious questions through them. Also a staunch supporter of French secularism, she supported Islamic scarf ban  

François Guizot was a French historian and statesman. He was a key figure in French politics in the years leading to the Revolution of 1848. After serving under the "citizen king" Louis Philippe in several roles, he was made the Prime Minister of France in 1847. He played a critical role in expanding public education. 

Hippolyte Taine was a French critic and historian who was the chief theoretical influence of French naturalism. One of the first practitioners of historicist criticism, he was also a major proponent of sociological positivism and made attempts to provide a scientific account of literature. He had a special relationship with novelist Émile Zola and corresponded with the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. 

Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie is a French historian who focuses on the history of the peasantry during the Ancien Régime in Languedoc. One of the principal historians of France, Emmanuel is associated with the Annales School; he is regarded as the leading figure of the school's third generation of historians. He is also dubbed the rock star of the medievalists.

Emmanuel Todd is a French anthropologist, historian, sociologist, demographer, and political scientist who currently works at the French Institute for Demographic Studies in Paris. He is best known for his research which examines the various types of families around the world. Many of his books have been translated into English.

Bernard Gui was a Bishop of Lodève, a Dominican friar, and a papal inquisitor. Gui is widely regarded as one of the most popular medieval inquisitors of all time, thanks to his fictionalized portrayals in today's popular culture. He is most notably mentioned in the 1980 novel The Name of the Rose, which was written by Italian novelist Umberto Eco.

Étienne Gilson was a French historian of philosophy and philosopher. He also taught history at various universities like the University of Strasbourg, the University of Paris, and Harvard University. Gilson also took part in World War I, serving in the French Army. His efforts in the battle of Verdun earned him the Croix de Guerre for bravery.

Pierre Hadot was a French historian of philosophy and philosopher who specialized in ancient philosophy. Hadot is credited with introducing Austrian-British philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's thoughts to France. He also published commentaries on and translations of Porphyry of Tyre, Plotinus, St. Ambrose, and Marcus Aurelius.

Anne Pingeot is a French art historian who specializes in 19th-century French sculpture. Pingeot, who is credited with writing several catalogs and books on French sculpture, served as the curator of the department of sculpture in popular museums like the Musée d'Orsay and the Louvre. Anne Pingeot was also the mistress of former President of France, François Mitterrand.

François Furet was a French historian best remembered for his works concerning the French Revolution. He is credited with creating a French think tank named the Saint-Simon Foundation for which he also served as president. From 1985 to 1997, he taught French history at the University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Furet was honored with prestigious awards like Tocqueville Award.

Eutropius was an Eastern Roman official who played an important role during Emperor Arcadius' reign. He was a confidante and one of the most important advisors of Arcadius. He also encouraged Gildo's uprising against Stilicho's machinations, thus playing a key role in the Gildonic War. Eutropius was the first eunuch to be appointed as a consul in the Roman Empire. 

Jean de Joinville was a French chronicler best remembered for his biography of Louis IX of France. Titled Life of Saint Louis, the biography chronicled the Seventh Crusade. Jean de Joinville is often counted among the great chroniclers in the history of France.

Georges Lefebvre was a French historian best remembered for his work on peasant life and the French Revolution. Widely regarded as a pioneer of people's history, Lefebvre conducted extensive research regarding the role played by the peasants during the French Revolution. His research resulted in one of his most important books, The Peasants of the North During the French Revolution.

Edmond de Goncourt was a French writer, book publisher, art critic, and literary critic. He is credited with founding the popular French literary organization, the Goncourt Literary Society. Between 1856 and 1875, he published essays on 18th-century art, which helped revive appreciation for the Late Baroque.

Constantin François de Chassebœuf, comte de Volney was a French abolitionist, philosopher, orientalist, writer, and politician. Volney was one of the first modern writers to champion the Christ myth theory, which suggests that Jesus Christ had no historical existence. Volney argued that Jesus was a mythical character and that Christianity was an amalgam of numerous ancient mythologies. 

Prosper of Aquitaine was a writer and the first continuator of the Universal Chronicle, which was originally written by Jerome of Stridon. A follower of Augustine of Hippo, Prosper of Aquitaine's writings have long attracted admirers for their classical qualities. Some of his most important works include De gratia Dei et libero arbitrio and De vocatione omnium gentium.

Jean Daniélou was a French cardinal, Jesuit, theologian, patrologist, and historian. He is credited with co-founding the Sources Chrétiennes book series, a collection of patristic texts. He also served as a professor at the Catholic University of Paris, where he later became the dean.   

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges was a French historian who directed some excavations in Chios and wrote a historical account of the island. He studied at the French School in Athens and proceeded to have a brilliant academic career devoted to teaching and writing. He was elected a member of the Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques in 1875.

Maurice-Georges Paléologue was a French diplomat and historian. He was also an essayist of great caliber. He played a pivotal role in the French entry into the First World War. At that time, he was the French ambassador to Russia and was in support of the Russian mobilization against Germany. He was also a published author of novels and essays. 

Philippe de Commines was a writer and diplomat who worked in the courts of Burgundy and France. Modern historians often call him "the first truly modern writer". He began his career as a soldier and later became a knight. He composed the Mémoires, which was posthumously published in three segments (1524-28) several years after his death in 1511. 

Geoffrey of Villehardouin was a knight and historian. He participated in and chronicled the Fourth Crusade and is considered one of the most important historians of his era. He wrote the eyewitness account De la Conquête de Constantinople (On the Conquest of Constantinople) about the battle for Constantinople that took place in 1204. He died around 1218.  

Olivette Otele is a historian currently serving as the Professor of the History of Slavery at Bristol University. She is the first black woman to hold a professorial chair in history in the United Kingdom. She has academic degrees from Bath Spa University and the University of Bristol. She was named on the BBC 100 Women 2018 List. 

Gnaeus Pompeius Trogus was a Gallo-Roman historian who lived during the reign of the emperor Augustus. He hailed from the Celtic Vocontii tribe in Narbonese Gaul. He is believed to have been a polymath and wrote books on the natural history of animals and plants. His best-known work is the Philippic Histories, preserved only in excerpts today. 

Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange was a French historian, linguist, and philologist. He received training to be a lawyer and was admitted to the Paris bar in 1631. Following a successful legal career, he assumed the office of treasurer of France. He knew many languages and was also a distinguished historian of the Middle Ages and Byzantium. 

Edgar Quinet was a French historian and intellectual. His father wanted him to pursue a business career, but he choose to engage in literary pursuits. He wrote several books and lectures on topics ranging from politics to religion. He participated in the 1848 Revolution which overthrew King Louis-Philippe of France. He was married to Romanian writer Hermiona Asachi.