De rebus gallicis, historiarum libri XXII - Priolo, Benjamin 1602-1667 (Utrecht Elsevier, 1669)
Originally published in 1665?
The work is a rather free and faithful account of the history of France from the death of Louis XIII till 1664, the administration of Cardinal Mazarin and the French Civil War of the Fronde between 1648 and 1653 after the Peace of Westphalia. This Civil War is also depicted on the engraved title page, together with a portrait of the king. The style of this history work is copied from Tacitus and it abounds in characters and portraits, often touched in a satirical manner.
Benjamin Prioli [or Priolo] was a French historian of Italian descent. When he was 15, he lost both his parents. He studied classical literature in Leiden under Heinsius and Vossius and thereafter went to Paris to meet Grotius. In Padua he studied philosophy under Cremonini. He was employed by the Duke of Longueville, who was the French plenipotentiary for the Peace of Westphalia. During the Civil War of the Fronde, Prioli took part with the Prince of Conde against the Court. When the Nobility lost, Prioli's property was confiscated and Prioli was forced to go into exile in Flanders. Later he could return to Paris.
The work is dedicated by Prioli to the Doge and the Senate of Venice as a token of gratitude for creating him Chevalier of Saint Marc.
Prioli's "Rebus Gallicis Historiarum" was first published in 1665 in Charleville by Poncelet and Paris by Frederic Leonard.The remaining copies of this Utrecht Elzevier edition were brought on the market in 1677 by Jean Maximilian Lucas from Amsterdam, with a new title page stating "Nova editio".
The engraved frontispiece mentions "Benj. Prioli. Historiae Galliae. LibriXII". Engraving unsigned.
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); History; France