Tucked away in the 18th arrondissement lies Place Charles-Bernard. It is a small square with a big story. Let me tell you about the man behind the name and the square’s history.
The Place Charles-Bernard is not very big. It is a public road in Paris’s 18th arrondissement. The Place Charles-Bernard starts at 16, rue du Poteau. It ends at 1, rue Letort. So, it’s a short but meaningful stretch.
Place Charles-Bernard owes its name to a French politician. His name was Charles Bernard. He lived from 1856 to 1927. Charles Bernard was also a deputy of the arrondissement. This means he represented the area in the French government.
The square we stand on came into existence in 1934. Before that, it was part of the rues Duhesme and Letort. The city decided to create a new place. They named it in honor of Charles Bernard. It was a way to remember his contributions.
But wait, there is another Charles Bernard. This one was an historiographer. He was appointed by King Louis XIII in 1621. He was an historian of France. This Charles Bernard was born in Paris.
He came from a large family with 17 children. Only four survived. Charles Bernard was well-educated. He even knew Antonio Pérez. Pérez was a former secretary of state from Spain. He discussed political secrets with Pérez.
This Charles Bernard wrote about finances. He wrote about the source of the kingdom’s money. King Louis XIII gave him missions. In 1620, he brought a message to Prudent. Prudent held the castle of Caen. The message was to surrender. In 1629, the king sent him to Flanders. He was to find out who was paid by the King of Spain. The king made him a state councilor in 1620.
He was named historiographer after Pierre Matthieu died. His proximity to the king let him know secrets. He put them in his book about King Louis XIII. His nephew published the book in 1646. Charles Bernard had become paralyzed. So, he could not finish it himself.
So, while we stand here at Place Charles-Bernard remember both men. The politician. And the historian. Both Charles Bernards left their mark on history. This square is a small reminder of their legacies.