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Birth of Voltaire
Voltaire was born in Paris as the youngest of five children under the name François-Marie Arouet. -
Finished Education at Collège-Le-Grand
During education, Arouet learned Latin and Greek, and later became fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish.
He studied Law and Literary Culture, but ditched law school for writing. *Date not exact, most exact resources only stated 1711 -
Thrown in the Bastille
Arouet was left there for eleven months.
During this time, he wrote Oedipe, a reworking of the greek tragedy mixed with the French Classism views of Corneille and Racine. *Again, date not specific -
Premiere of Oedipe
It was written under the pen-name "Voltaire," an anagram of Arouet's surname in latin
He tried to rationalize the actions and motivations of the characters, as written in one of his letters in 1719 (including toning down the theme of incest, since the Regent of France was present and had rumors of a relationship with his sister, who later congratulated Voltaire on the performance) -
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Voltaire's Exile to England
Arouet's exile was caused by a warrant from a wealthy family unappreciative of his views. The warrant originally intended Arouet to be sentenced back to the Bastille, but he appealed to the french authorities to exile instead.
During this time, Voltaire met with other famous figures from the Age of Enlightenment, including Isaac Newton, and Voltaire began spreading their ideas back to France. *Dates not specific -
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Chateâu de Cirey
Voltaire's visit to Cirey led him to a relationship with the Marquise du Châtelet, where they spent years studying the works of Newton and collecting books, leading to a library of over 21,000 books. *Dates not specific -
Publication of "Lettres Philosophiques"
These letters were a retort to French government on its views of religious tolerance and human rights, among its topics.
The views were based on british culture and philosophy from such figures as Locke and Newton.
They were outlawed in France due to their 'heretical" views on the Catholic Chrurch and its view on the government. They were still widely popular within the lower classes.
*Date not specific -
Publication of Candide
Candide was Voltaire's perhaps greatest work, a French Satire based on Religious beliefs that we live in the best world possible. The story was almost immediately banned because of religious blasphemy and hostility disguised under character naïvety. *Date specific up to month -
Voltaire's Death
2 months before his death, Voltaire went back to Paris to watch the performance of his latest play, Irene. He was greeted by adoring fans as a returning hero of French Revolution and culture. -
Voltaire's recognition
The National Assembly of France labelled Voltaire as a forerunner of the French Revolution, and moved his remains to the Pantheon. Almost a million people attended the procession.