Claude Fauchet

Who was Claude Fauchet?

Claude Fauchet was a French historian and antiquary.

He was born at Paris; of his early life few particulars are known. He applied himself to the study of the early French chroniclers, and proposed to publish extracts which would throw light on the first periods of the monarchy. During the Wars of Religion, when he was forced to flee Paris with Henri III in 1589 and could not return until 18 April 1594, he lost a large part of his books and manuscripts to the soldiers of the duc de Mayenne. His losses he accounted to be about two thousand books and manuscripts, possibly an exaggeration. He then settled at Marseilles.

Attaching himself afterwards to François de Tournon, he accompanied him in 1554 to Italy, whence he was several times sent on embassies to the king, with reports on the siege of Siena. His services at length procured him the post of president of the Chambre des Monnaies