Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities

The Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities was founded by Colbert in 1663. Known under the name of “Small Academy” before its official creation, it was called successively “royal Academy of the inscriptions and medals”, “royal Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities”, “National institute of sciences and arts, classify literature and fine art” and “National institute of sciences and arts, classifies old history and literature” before finding on March 21st 1816 its name current. It belongs to the Institut of France. Office for 2007: B. Pottier, president; J. - F. Jarrige, vice-president; J. Leclant, perpetual secretary (since 1983).

History and attributions

The mission of the Academy was initially to establish the inscriptions and currencies of the monuments and medals in the honor of the king Louis XIV. It had, for that, to study the medals and other scarcities, old and modern, of the cabinet of the king as well as the old monuments of France.

Very quickly, the Academy dealt of archeology and history to the full extent. The ordinance of July 16th 1701, under the impulse of Jerome Phélypeaux, Secretary of State at the House of the King, transforms it into a true institution of State. Its existence is confirmed by letters patent of February 1713 given by Louis XIV to the Château of Marly.

Of 1717, date of publication of the first volume, in 1793, date of its dissolution, it publishes 317 historical memories, the majority devoted to the Gaulle and the Moyen-âge: studies of old geography, literature, auxiliary sciences of the history (Numismatic epigraphy, , Sigillography, etc), of history of the institutions, manners and the habits.

Work of the Academy is based from the beginning on archaeological documents and sources, and thus acquires a reputation of quality and the serious one. Several academicians are considered among the founders of historical science in France: the abbot Jean Lebeuf, Jean-Baptiste of Curne of Holy-Palaye, Louis-Georges de Bréquigny, the Count de Caylus or Nicolas Fréret for example. The Academy thus acquires a very great prestige throughout the 18th century.

The payment of December 22nd 1786 draws the conclusion from it by making historical research as a such principal goal of the institution: “The main object and direct of the Academy being the history, it will pursue the study mainly 1) of the languages, particularly of the Eastern languages and the languages Greek and Latin 2) with that of the monuments of any species, medals, inscriptions, etc, relating to the old story and the medieval history 5) being studied of sciences, arts and trades of old, by comparing them with those of modern…”

Under the French revolution, the decree of November 27th 1792 interdict with the royal Academies to provide for the replacement with the died academicians, then the decree of August 8th 1793 orders the removal of “all the academies and literary companies licensed or equipped by the Nation”. The royal Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities becomes thus the 3rd class (initially “literature and fine art”, then “old history and literature”) of the Institut of France established by the Constitution of year III (1795).

The Ordonnance of March 21st, 1816 restores the name of Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities to him.

The humanities and Academy of Science is at the origin of the creation of the international academic Union.

Today, the missions of the Academy became broader, with a predilection for the French history and of Gaules, the Linguistique, the Archéologie and the studies orientalists.

Statute and organization

Of some members under Colbert, the institution quickly grew. The payment of 1701, a long time into force, fixes the number of its members at 40: 10 free fees, 10 boarders, 10 associates and 10 pupils. In 1715, one associates 6 associated foreigners to them.

The Academy is a moral person of public law to particular status. She is currently composed of 55 members of French nationality and 40 associated abroad.

The meetings were taken place originally with the Palais of Louvre, in a room of the ground floor beyond the house of the Clock. In 1805, it was transferred to the Palais from the Institute, with the other academies.

Members of the Academy

See the List of the members of the Academy of the inscriptions and the humanities

External bond

Official site

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