A theory proposing that a 14th-century conspiracy forged the vast majority of classical literature defined the legacy of Jean Hardouin. Born in 1646 in Quimper, France, this librarian and theologian gained notoriety for rejecting the authenticity of ancient art, coins, and inscriptions, ultimately attracting the attention of ecclesiastical censors who placed his controversial works on the Index of Forbidden Books.
Early Career and Scholarly Foundations
Developing a passion for literature within his father's bookstore, Hardouin moved to Paris to pursue theological studies. By 1683, he was appointed librarian of the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, the institution where he remained until his death in 1729. His editorial contributions began in 1684 with an edition of Themistius, followed by a demanding five-year project to edit Pliny’s Natural History for the Dauphin series.
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Hardouin applied a distinct, often contentious approach to numismatics, publishing studies such as Nummi antiqui populorum et urbium illustrati in 1684 and Antirrheticus de nummis antiquis coloniarum et municipiorum in 1689. When questioned about the public shock caused by his unorthodox interpretations, he justified his exhaustive research routine as a necessary rejection of repetitive scholarship.
Theological Controversy and Censorship
Tasked with supervising the massive Conciliorum collectio regia maxima in 1715, Hardouin faced accusations of suppressing vital documents and inserting apocryphal texts. This led to delays by the parlement of Paris. Later, his 1733 posthumous collection, Opera varia, included Athei detecti, where he labeled prominent thinkers like René Descartes and Blaise Pascal as atheists for their definitions of God.
Linguistic and Biblical Theories
Hardouin challenged conventions by asserting that the New Testament was originally written in Latin. He further argued that Jesus Christ utilized Latin as his daily language. His interpretation of the incident at Antioch—claiming that Paul rebuked a different man named Cephas rather than Peter—was motivated by a desire to defend the infallibility of the papacy, though it resulted in his commentary being banned by authorities.
Fast facts
- Born: 1646, Quimper, France
- Died: 1729, Paris, France
- Occupations: Librarian, historian, numismatist, priest, classical scholar, philosopher, theologian
- First major publication: Themistius (1684)
- Notable numismatic work: Chronologia Veteris Testamenti (1696)
- Key academic appointment: Librarian of Lycée Louis-le-Grand
- Posthumous collection: Opera varia (1733)
Questions readers ask
Why did Hardouin claim classical texts were forgeries?
He proposed that a 14th-century conspiracy created almost all literature and art attributed to ancient eras.
What was the significance of Athei detecti?
In this work, he identified leading 17th-century philosophers, including Pascal and Descartes, as atheists based on his own theological criteria.
