Fancy a stroll where history whispers from every corner? Here, on Rue Lenain de Tillemont, the echoes of a notable historian resonate. Louis-Sébastien Le Nain de Tillemont was born in 1637. He came from a wealthy Jansenist family.
Rue Lenain de Tillemont bears the name of a man dedicated to ecclesiastical history. He was educated at the Petites écoles of Port-Royal. There, his interest in history was nurtured.
At twenty, Louis-Sébastien began his two major works. One was “Mémoires pour servir à l’histoire ecclésiastique des six premiers siècles”. This detailed the Christian Church’s first six centuries. The other was “Histoire des empereurs et autres princes”. It covered Roman emperors of the same era.
Tillemont became a priest at 39. He settled at Port-Royal. After Port-Royal’s dissolution in 1679, he moved to his family’s estate. This estate was also named Tillemont. He devoted his life to historical work.
His “Histoire” began publication in 1690. His “Mémoires” followed in 1693. Both works were unfinished at his death. His secretary, Michel Tronchay, completed them. Tronchay also wrote Tillemont’s biography in 1706. It was titled “Idée de la vie et de l’esprit de M. L. de Tillemont.”
Edward Gibbon frequently cited Tillemont in “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. Tillemont was known for accuracy and detail. Though his style was considered dry, he meticulously surveyed source material. Honoratus a Sancta Maria criticized his work in “Réflexions sur les règles et l’usage de la critique”.
Public transport can bring you here. The Metro line 9 can be used. Bus lines 118, 122, 127, and 202 will also get you here. Bus lines 116, 102, 121, and N34 also serve this street.
The closest bus stops are Saint-Just and Murs à Pêches. Both are a three-minute walk away. Danton is an eight-minute walk. Mairie de Montreuil is about 11 minutes away on foot.
The Metro station Mairie de Montreuil is nearby. It is about a 10-minute walk from Rue Lenain de Tillemont.
So, as you walk Rue Lenain de Tillemont. Remember the historian who dedicated his life to preserving the past. His meticulous work still informs our understanding of history today. This street is a quiet tribute to his enduring legacy.