The Rue La Boétie is a street in the

8th arrondissement of Paris The 8th arrondissement of Paris (''VIIIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, the arrondissement is colloquially referred to as ''le huitième'' (). The ar ...

, running from the Rue d'Astorg to the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. It is named in honour of

Étienne de La Boétie Étienne or Estienne de La Boétie (; ; 1 November 1530 – 18 August 1563) was a French magistrate, classicist, writer, poet and political theorist, best remembered for his friendship with essayist Michel de Montaigne. His early political trea ...

(1530–1563), friend of moralist

Michel de Montaigne Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne ( ; ; ; 28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592), commonly known as Michel de Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. He is known for popularising the the essay ...

History

From 1640, the space today found between the streets of the Colosseum and Berri, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré was occupied by the Royal nursery, which supplied the royal residences with trees, shrubs and flowers. Decommissioned under the ''

Régence The ''Régence'' (, ''Regency'') was the period in History of France, French history between 1715 and 1723 when King Louis XV was considered a minor (law), minor and the country was instead governed by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (a nephew ...

'' to make way for a subdivision planned by

John Law John Law may refer to: Arts and entertainment * John Law (artist) (born 1958), American artist * John Law (comics), comic-book character created by Will Eisner * John Law (film director), Hong Kong film director * John Law (musician) (born 1961) ...

, the plan was eventually dropped. In 1755, the land became the property of

Louis Phélypeaux, comte de Saint-Florentin Louis Phélypeaux (; 18 August 1705 – 27 February 1777) Count of Saint-Florentin, Marquis (1725) and Duke of La Vrillière (1770), was a French politician. Biography Born 18 August 1705, in Paris, to Louis Phélypeaux, Marquis de La Vrill ...

, who was then

Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi The secretary of state of the Maison du Roi () was the Secretary of State (Ancien Régime), secretary of state in France during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration in France, Bourbon Restoration in charge of the Département de la Maison du ...

, who ceded it in 1764 to his mistress, Marie-Madeleine de Cusacque the Countess of

Langeac Langeac (; ) is a commune in the Haute-Loire department in south-central France. It is located about 30 km west of Le Puy-en-Velay, and about 100 km southwest of Lyon. Population Monuments * Church of Saint-Gal See also * Commun ...

(1725–1778). She then sold it in 1772 to the Comte d'Artois, who later became King

Charles X Charles X may refer to: * Charles X of France (1757–1836) * Charles X Gustav (1622–1660), King of Sweden * Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (1523–1590), recognized as Charles X of France but renounced the royal title See also * * King Charle ...

Louis XVI Louis XVI (Louis-Auguste; ; 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. The son of Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765), Louis, Dauphin of France (son and heir- ...

's younger brother. Planning approval via

letters patent Letters patent (plurale tantum, plural form for singular and plural) are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, President (government title), president or other head of state, generally granti ...

was given on 29 November 1777, which allowed the prince to cut through land from the Rue d'Angoulême with a width of , and to name it in honour of his eldest son

Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême Louis Antoine of France, Duke of Angoulême (6 August 1775 – 3 June 1844) was the elder son of Charles X of France and the last Dauphin of France from 1824 to 1830. He was a ''petit-fils de France'' at birth, and was initially known as Lo ...

(1775–1844). New letters patent of 4 April 1778 approved the opening of the Rue de Ponthieu, Rue Neuve-de-Berri (current Rue de Berri), Rue Neuve-de-Poitiers (current Rue d'Artois) and Rue d'Angoulême-Saint-Honoré. An alignment report was drawn up by the office of the City of Paris on 24 November 1778, allowing a ministerial decision to be taken on 6 Nivôse XII (27 December 1803), which set the width of the street to . During the French Revolution and until 1815, the street bore the name ''Rue de l'Union'' (Union Street). It then resumed its original name until 1830, when it became ''Rue de la Charte'' (Charter Street). It then underwent a quick succession of names, becoming ''Rue Lapeyrouse'', ''Rue d'Angoulême'' once again (1852), ''Rue de Morny'' (1863), ''Rue de la Commune'' (1871), ''Rue Mac-Mahon'' and finally ''Rue Pierre-Charron'' in 1871. The area between the Place Saint-Augustin and the Place Chand-Goyon was called ''Rue de la Pépinière'' until 1868, and then ''Rue Abattucci''. The street took its current name in 1879, throughout its length, in honour of

(1530–1563), friend moralist of

Notable buildings

References

{{reflist Boetie