Founding of the Académie Française

Timeline

1. 1633–1634Paris · ParisSecretary Boisrobert reported to Richelieu that a group of men of letters regularly met at Conrart's home to discuss style and language. Richelieu decided to incorporate it as an official academy, serving as its protector himself, with Conrart as its first perpetual secretary. The academy was already operating in 1634, and Séguier affixed the seal to the charter on 4 December.
2. 1635Paris · ParisOn 29 January 1635, Louis XIII's charter defined the academy's mission: to preserve and perfect the French language so that it would suffice for discussing letters and sciences. On 12 February the member title "académicien" was fixed. The membership was set at forty, later known as the "Immortals," marking the incorporation of language policy into royal institutions.
3. 1635–1637Parlement of Paris · ParisThe Parlement feared the new academy would become a tool of royal propaganda and compete with existing judicial and cultural authorities, delaying registration for two years. The charter was finally registered on 10 July 1637, giving the academy full legal standing to elect members and discuss dictionaries and grammar according to its statutes.
4. 1637–1642Paris · ParisAfter registration, the academy set about planning dictionaries and grammars, establishing court French as the written standard. Richelieu died in 1642, and the members then elected Séguier as protector. The first dictionary did not appear until 1694, but the institution of state intervention in language was thereby established and influenced other European academies.