Nicolas Fréret

Nicolas Fréret (* February 15, 1688 in Paris, † March 8, 1749 ) was a French historian. He was interested in ancient history and mythology.

Life and work

Fréret studied at the insistence of his father's first law and worked for the Bar Association. In 1714 he presented the study Sur l' origine des Francs on the origin of the Franks, in which he characterized differently than in previous legends the Franks as südgermanischen tribe. This view undermined the self- view and legitimacy of the French royal family, which is why he was sent to the Bastille. Until his dismissal in March 1715 he spent three months in captivity and employed during this period, especially the works of Xenophon. A year later, in January 1716 Fréret became a corresponding member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres. In the following years he worked on the separation of legends and history as well as with the chronology of Ancient Egypt, which he regarded as the origin of Chinese culture. For the Académie, he wrote numerous Mémoires, many of which remained unpublished during his lifetime. His studies of mythology did not end with the Greeks but also discussed the Celts, Germans, Chinese and Indians. Through the mediation of Arcadio Huang Fréret learned as one of the first scientists to Europe, the Chinese language. After his death in 1749 he falsely several works with atheistic character were ascribed, which were probably written by Paul Henri Thiry d' Holbach.

Works (selection)

• Sur l' origine des Francs. 1714
• Réflexions sur les prodiges rapport dans les anciens. 1717 ( Mémoire )
• Réflexions sur les principes de l'art d' écrire généraux et en particulier sur les Fondements de l' écriture chinoise. 1718 ( Mémoire )
• Réflexions générales sur l' étude of anciennes histoires et sur ​​le degré de certitude of différentes preuves historiques. 1724 ( Mémoire )
• Observations sur les Causes et sur ​​quelques circonstances de la condamnation de Socrate. 1738 ( Mémoire )
• De l' année vague cappadocienne. 1744
• Observations générales sur l' étude de la philosophie ancienne. 1744 ( Mémoire )
• Observations sur la religion des Gaulois et sur ​​celle of the Germains. 1747 ( Mémoire )
• Recherches sur le culte de Bacchus parmi les Grecs. 1749 ( Mémoire )
• Observations sur les oracles rendus par les âmes des morts. 1749 ( Mémoire )
• Vues générales sur l' origine & le mélange of anciennes Nations, & sur la manière d'en l' histoire étudier. Imprimerie Royale, Paris 1753
• Défense de la chronology fondée sur les Monumens de l' histoire ancienne, contre le système de chronologique M. Newton. Durand, Paris 1758
• Mémoires académiques. Publisher: Catherine Volpilhac Auger. Fayard, Paris 1996. ISBN 2213597235