Octavien de Saint-Gelais
Octavien de Saint-Gelais (1468–1502) was a French churchman, poet, and translator. He translated the Aeneid into French, as well as Ovid's Heroides. Octavien de Saint-Gelais was born in Cognac, Angoumois, he studied theology at the Collège de Navarre, and became a member of the court of Charles VIII of France.
Octavien de Saint-Gelais
- Born
- 1468 · Cognac.
- Died
- 1502 · Vars.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of France
- Occupation
- poet · translator · theologian · writer
- Education
- University of Paris
- Known for
- Epistre en equivocques · L'estrif de Science and Nature et de Fortune · Le sejour d'Honneur · Eneydes · Le livre des epistres de Ovide · L'ystoire d'Eurialus et de Lucresse · Le livre des persecutions des Crestiens · Le tresor de noblesse
- Languages
- Middle French · medieval Latin
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Octavien de Saint-Gelais (1468–1502) was a French churchman, poet, and translator. He translated the Aeneid into French, as well as Ovid's Heroides. Octavien de Saint-Gelais was born in Cognac, Angoumois, he studied theology at the Collège de Navarre, and became a member of the court of Charles VIII of France.
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wikidata · Q714562 · wikipedia · Octavien de Saint-Gelais
In this article
Work and production
Work and production
A terrible sickness led him to abandon a formerly frivolous lifestyle and he took holy orders. Charles appointed him bishop of Angoulême in 1494. In this capacity, he reformed the monastic rules, visited the poor, decorated churches, and composed original poems, besides translating the works of the ancients. His poetic compositions include Tout m'est dueil, tout m'est desplaisir and Plus n'ay d'actente au bien que j'espéroye. An outbreak of the plague forced him to abandon his post as bishop in 1502, and he died the same year. The French poet Clément Marot praised his work, and wrote that Saint-Gelais had made his birthplace, Cognac, eternal. His nephew was the poet Mellin de Saint-Gelais.
Octavien de Saint-Gelais studied at University of Paris. The recorded working language is Middle French and medieval Latin. Positions recorded include Roman Catholic Bishop of Angoulême. Works named in the authority record are Epistre en equivocques, L'estrif de Science, Nature et de Fortune, Le sejour d'Honneur, Eneydes, Le livre des epistres de Ovide and L'ystoire d'Eurialus et de Lucresse.
Works recorded as notable number 8: Epistre en equivocques, L'estrif de Science, Nature et de Fortune, Le sejour d'Honneur, Eneydes, Le livre des epistres de Ovide, L'ystoire d'Eurialus et de Lucresse, Le livre des persecutions des Crestiens and Le tresor de noblesse.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1468
Octavien de Saint-Gelais was born in 1468.
1502
Octavien de Saint-Gelais died on 1 January 1502.
Places
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Places
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Cognac.
Birth place
Vars.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q714562: Octavien de Saint-Gelais
General reference · Wikidata
reference work
- “Octavien de Saint-Gelais”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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authority record
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Secondary witness
Further particulars
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Further particulars
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His recorded languages were Middle French and medieval Latin. His recorded confession was Catholic Church. He was the child of Pierre de Saint-Gelais de Lusignan, Seigneur de Montlieu and Philiberte de Fontenay. Recorded with the occupation theologian. Recorded as poet, translator, theologian and writer.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Books
39,499 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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- Octavio GetinoAuthor
- Octavio PazAuthor
- Oda SchaeferAuthor
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