Jules Michelet, a printer's son, wrote a history of France in which the people play a part and the sentence moves forward like a story. His History of the Revolution cost him his chair: suspended, then dismissed in 1851 for refusing the oath to Napoleon III. He campaigned for cremation, then forbidden. It took two years to bring his body back to Paris, and ten thousand people followed.
The story
Jules Michelet was born in Paris in 1798, a printer's son. Holder of a chair at the Collège de France, he wrote a history of France that is no chronicle of kings: the people is a character in it, and the prose moves like a story.
His “History of the French Revolution”, published between 1847 and 1853, is his great book. It also cost him: suspended from his chair in 1849, he was dismissed in 1851 for refusing to swear an oath to Napoleon III.
He wanted to be cremated, with no religious service. Cremation was forbidden in France at the time: it would not be allowed until 1887, thirteen years after his death. His wish was not granted.
He died at Hyères, in the Var, in 1874. It took two years to bring his body back to Paris: he was buried on 18 May 1876, with ten thousand people in the procession.
His monument in Division 52 was unveiled in 1882, paid for by an international subscription: ten nations are cut into the stone, from Greece to Portugal, from Hungary to Romania. His second wife, Adèle Athénaïs, who died in 1899, lies with him.
The grave
A monument of white marble unveiled in 1882, by the sculptor Antonin Mercié and the architect Jean-Louis Pascal. The historian lies as a recumbent effigy on a sarcophagus, pen in hand, and above him “History”, a young woman holding a scroll on which one reads “Histoire de France”. The engraved motto is his: “History is a resurrection.” Another inscription takes up his own words: “May God receive my soul, grateful for so much good, so many laborious years, so many friendships.” Finally, beneath “To Jules Michelet, international subscription”, ten nations are named — from Greece to Romania, from Poland to Portugal.
On site, do not miss
The pen in the hand of the effigy, the scroll of “History” above, and the list of the ten subscribing nations engraved on the stone.
Visitors' questions
Where is Jules Michelet's grave?
In Division 52, avenue Delacroix, first row. The white marble recumbent effigy, showing the historian holding his pen beneath the figure of “History”, is one of the most remarkable monuments in the cemetery.
Eugène DelacroixWhat does his monument show?
Michelet lying on a sarcophagus, pen in hand, and above him “History” in the form of a young woman holding a scroll entitled “Histoire de France”. The whole is by Antonin Mercié and was unveiled in 1882.
Adolphe ThiersWho paid for his monument?
An international subscription, whose ten participating nations are carved on the stone: France, England, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Switzerland. The historian of the Revolution was read all over Europe.
François-Adrien BoieldieuWhy did he lose his chair?
For refusing to swear an oath to Napoleon III: suspended in 1849, he was dismissed in 1851. That same year François Arago refused likewise and was left in his post at the Observatory — the regime did not treat everyone alike.
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