1533(Feb.28) Montaigne is born. Montaigne is born.

1539?48 He goes to school at the College de Guyenne, Bordeaux. He goes to school at the College de Guyenne, Bordeaux.

1548 (Aug.) Salt-tax riots in Bordeaux; Montaigne witnesses the mob killing of Moneins. Salt-tax riots in Bordeaux; Montaigne witnesses the mob killing of Moneins.

154854 He studies: probably law, probably in Paris and/or Toulouse. He studies: probably law, probably in Paris and/or Toulouse.

1554.

He begins work at the Cour des Aides in Perigueux. He begins work at the Cour des Aides in Perigueux.

1557.

All Perigueux men are transferred to the Bordeaux All Perigueux men are transferred to the Bordeaux parlement parlement.

155859 Montaigne becomes friends with Estienne de La Boetie. Montaigne becomes friends with Estienne de La Boetie.

1559.

Treaty of Cateau Cambresis ends France's foreign wars, with disastrous consequences. Treaty of Cateau Cambresis ends France's foreign wars, with disastrous consequences.

1562.

Ma.s.sacre of Va.s.sy: beginning of the civil wars. In Rouen with Charles IX, Montaigne meets three Tupinamba Brazilians. Ma.s.sacre of Va.s.sy: beginning of the civil wars. In Rouen with Charles IX, Montaigne meets three Tupinamba Brazilians.

1563 (Aug. 18) La Boetie dies, Montaigne at his bedside. La Boetie dies, Montaigne at his bedside.

1565 (Sept. 23) Montaigne marries Francoise de La Cha.s.saigne. Montaigne marries Francoise de La Cha.s.saigne.

1568 (June 18) Pierre Eyquem dies, and Montaigne inherits the estate. Pierre Eyquem dies, and Montaigne inherits the estate.

1569.

Montaigne publishes his translation of Sebond's Montaigne publishes his translation of Sebond's Natural Theology Natural Theology.

Montaigne's brother Arnaud dies in a tennis accident. Montaigne's brother Arnaud dies in a tennis accident.

1569 or early 1570 Montaigne himself almost dies in a riding accident. Montaigne himself almost dies in a riding accident.

1570.

Montaigne retires from the Bordeaux Montaigne retires from the Bordeaux parlement parlement.

His first baby is born, and dies after two months. His first baby is born, and dies after two months.

He edits the works of La Boetie. He edits the works of La Boetie.

1571 (Feb.) Montaigne makes his birthday inscription in his library. Montaigne makes his birthday inscription in his library.

(Sept. 9) His only surviving child, Leonor, is born. His only surviving child, Leonor, is born.

1572.

Montaigne probably begins work on the Montaigne probably begins work on the Essays Essays.

(Aug.) St. Bartholomew's ma.s.sacres. St. Bartholomew's ma.s.sacres.

1574.

Death of Charles IX; Henri III becomes king. Death of Charles IX; Henri III becomes king.

1576.

Montaigne has his medal struck, with scales and the motto Montaigne has his medal struck, with scales and the motto epokhe epokhe.

1578.

He suffers his first kidney-stone attacks. He suffers his first kidney-stone attacks.

1580.

Essais: Essais: 1st edition. 1st edition.

(June)1581 (Nov.) Montaigne travels in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy. Montaigne travels in Switzerland, Germany, and Italy.

1581 (Aug.) He is elected mayor of Bordeaux. He is elected mayor of Bordeaux.

1582.

Essais: Essais: 2nd edition. 2nd edition.

1583 (Aug.) He is reelected mayor of Bordeaux. He is reelected mayor of Bordeaux.

1584 (Dec.) Henri de Navarre stays at Montaigne estate. Henri de Navarre stays at Montaigne estate.

1585.

Plague on the estate; Montaigne flees. Plague on the estate; Montaigne flees.

1587.

Essais: Essais: 3rd edition. 3rd edition.

(Oct.) Henri de Navarre again calls at Montaigne estate. Henri de Navarre again calls at Montaigne estate.

1588.

Montaigne in Paris on secret mission, then follows court of Henri III. He meets Marie de Gournay. Montaigne in Paris on secret mission, then follows court of Henri III. He meets Marie de Gournay.

(May) Day of the Barricades; Henri III flees Paris. Day of the Barricades; Henri III flees Paris.

(June) Essais: Essais: the much enlarged 5th edition (the 4th, if it existed, has never been traced). the much enlarged 5th edition (the 4th, if it existed, has never been traced).

(10 July) Montaigne imprisoned in the Bastille, and released. Montaigne imprisoned in the Bastille, and released.

(Autumn) He recuperates in Picardy with Marie de Gournay. He recuperates in Picardy with Marie de Gournay.

(Dec.) Henri III has the duc de Guise a.s.sa.s.sinated. Henri III has the duc de Guise a.s.sa.s.sinated.

158892 Montaigne works on final additions to the Montaigne works on final additions to the Essays Essays.

1589 (Aug.) Henri III is a.s.sa.s.sinated; Henri IV succeeds to the throne, though his claim is disputed. Henri III is a.s.sa.s.sinated; Henri IV succeeds to the throne, though his claim is disputed.

1592 (Sept. 13) Montaigne dies of a quinsy. Montaigne dies of a quinsy.

1595.

Marie de Gournay's edition of the Marie de Gournay's edition of the Essais Essais, which will dominate Montaigne-reading for three centuries.

1601.

Death of Montaigne's mother Antoinette de Louppes de Villeneuve. Death of Montaigne's mother Antoinette de Louppes de Villeneuve.

Pierre Charron's "remix," Pierre Charron's "remix," La Sagesse La Sagesse.

1603.

Essayes: Essayes: first English translation by John Florio. first English translation by John Florio.

1616.

Death of Montaigne's daughter, Leonor. Death of Montaigne's daughter, Leonor.

1627.

Death of Montaigne's widow Francoise de La Cha.s.saigne. Death of Montaigne's widow Francoise de La Cha.s.saigne.

1637.

Descartes's Descartes's Discours de la methode Discours de la methode.

1645.

Death of Marie de Gournay. Death of Marie de Gournay.

1662.

Blaise Pascal dies, leaving the notes published as the Blaise Pascal dies, leaving the notes published as the Pensees Pensees.

1676.

Essais Essais placed on placed on Index of Prohibited Books Index of Prohibited Books.

168586 Essays Essays translated into English by Charles Cotton. translated into English by Charles Cotton.

1724.

French French Essais Essais published in London by refugee Pierre Coste. published in London by refugee Pierre Coste.

1772.

Discovery of Montaigne's travel journal in an old trunk. Discovery of Montaigne's travel journal in an old trunk.

Annotated "Bordeaux Copy" of Annotated "Bordeaux Copy" of Essais Essais unearthed from archives and used to authenticate the journal. unearthed from archives and used to authenticate the journal.

1789.

French Revolution. French Revolution.

1800.

Revolutionary authorities decide to re-bury Revolutionary authorities decide to re-bury .

Montaigne as a secular hero in the Bordeaux Montaigne as a secular hero in the Bordeaux .

Academie, but the plan goes awry. Academie, but the plan goes awry.

1850.

Montaigne's "plague" letters published, causing consternation. Montaigne's "plague" letters published, causing consternation.

1854.

Essais Essais removed from the removed from the Index of Prohibited Books Index of Prohibited Books.

188086 Montaigne's tomb renovated and moved to University of Bordeaux. Montaigne's tomb renovated and moved to University of Bordeaux.