François Timoléon, abbé de Choisy (French:[ʃwazi]; 16 August 1644 – 2 October 1724) was a French cross-dresser, abbé, and author.[1] He wrote numerous works on church history as well as travelogues, memoirs and fiction.[2]
De Choisy was born in Paris. His father was attached to the household of the duke of Orléans whilst his mother, who was on intimate terms with Anne of Austria, was regularly called upon to amuse Louis XIV. At his mother’s whim, the boy was dressed like a girl until he was eighteen, and, after appearing for a short time in male clothing, resumed woman's dress on the (perhaps ironic) advice of Madame de La Fayette.[3] Upon his mother's death, he inherited a large sum of money, allowing him to live a life of leisure.[4] De Choisy delighted in the most extravagant toilettes until being publicly rebuked by the duc de Montausier, causing his retirement for some time to the provinces; thereupon, he allegedly used female appearance to serve numerous intrigues.[3] However, doubt has been cast upon the veracity of these allegations, with historian Paul Scott of the University of Kansas stating "if you regard it [the memoir] with any scrutiny, there are implausibilities, contradictions, anachronisms and no contemporary corroboration whatsoever."[5]
De Choisy was made an abbé in his childhood, and poverty, induced by extravagance, drove him to live on his benefice at Sainte-Seine in Burgundy, where a kindred spirit was found amongst his neighbours in Bussy-Rabutin. De Choisy visited Rome in the retinue of the cardinal de Bouillon in 1676, and shortly afterwards a serious illness brought about a sudden conversion to genuine religion.[3]
De Choisy wrote a number of historical and religious works, of which the most notable are the following:[3]
Quatre dialogues sur l'immortalité de l'âme ... (1684), written with the Abbé Dangeau and explaining their conversion.
Histoire de l'Eglise (11 vols., 1703–1723)
De Choisy is remembered for his gossiping Mémoires (1737), which contains detailed portraits of his contemporaries, although there is some question about its historical accuracy.[3]
The Mémoires passed through many editions, and were edited in 1868 by M. de Lescure. Some admirable letters of de Choisy are included in the correspondence of Bussy-Rabutin. De Choisy is said to have burnt some of their indiscreet revelations, but left a considerable quantity of unpublished manuscripts. Part of this material was surreptitiously used in an anonymous Histoire de madame la comtesse de Barres (Antwerp, 1735) and again with much editing in the Vie de M. l'abbé de Choisy (Lausanne and Geneva, 1742), ascribed by Paul Lacroix to Lenglet Dufresnoy; the text was finally edited (1870) by Lacroix as Aventures de l'abbé de Choisy. See also Sainte-Beuve, Causeries du lundi, vol. iii.[3]
Influencesedit
The Scottish philosopher David Hume (1711–1776) had de Choisy's Mémoires and account of Siam in his library.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abAlison Gopnik (14 September 2015). "How David Hume Helped Me Solve My Midlife Crisis". The Atlantic.
^"Choisy, François-Timoléon, abbé de". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^ abcdefOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Choisy, François Timoléon". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 262.
^De Choisy, François-Timoléon; Rose, Emily (2019). "Excerpt from Mémoirs de l'abbé de Choisy habillé en femme (Memoirs of the Abbot de Choisy Dressed as a Woman)". TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly. 6 (3): 448–454. doi:10.1215/23289252-7549612. S2CID 202526830.
^"Professor casts doubt on one of history's greatest cross-dressing memoirs". University of Kansas. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
^Chakrabongse, C. (1960), Lords of Life, London: Alvin Redman
^"François-Timoléon de CHOISY". Académie française (in French).
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
françois, timoléon, choisy, françois, timoléon, abbé, choisy, french, ʃwazi, august, 1644, october, 1724, french, cross, dresser, abbé, author, wrote, numerous, works, church, history, well, travelogues, memoirs, fiction, magazine, illustration, abbé, choisy, . Francois Timoleon abbe de Choisy French ʃwazi 16 August 1644 2 October 1724 was a French cross dresser abbe and author 1 He wrote numerous works on church history as well as travelogues memoirs and fiction 2 Magazine illustration of Abbe de Choisy from 1855 Contents 1 Biography 2 Works 3 Influences 4 References 5 External linksBiography editDe Choisy was born in Paris His father was attached to the household of the duke of Orleans whilst his mother who was on intimate terms with Anne of Austria was regularly called upon to amuse Louis XIV At his mother s whim the boy was dressed like a girl until he was eighteen and after appearing for a short time in male clothing resumed woman s dress on the perhaps ironic advice of Madame de La Fayette 3 Upon his mother s death he inherited a large sum of money allowing him to live a life of leisure 4 De Choisy delighted in the most extravagant toilettes until being publicly rebuked by the duc de Montausier causing his retirement for some time to the provinces thereupon he allegedly used female appearance to serve numerous intrigues 3 However doubt has been cast upon the veracity of these allegations with historian Paul Scott of the University of Kansas stating if you regard it the memoir with any scrutiny there are implausibilities contradictions anachronisms and no contemporary corroboration whatsoever 5 De Choisy was made an abbe in his childhood and poverty induced by extravagance drove him to live on his benefice at Sainte Seine in Burgundy where a kindred spirit was found amongst his neighbours in Bussy Rabutin De Choisy visited Rome in the retinue of the cardinal de Bouillon in 1676 and shortly afterwards a serious illness brought about a sudden conversion to genuine religion 3 In 1685 he accompanied the Chevalier de Chaumont on a mission to Siam 6 62 He was ordained a priest and received various ecclesiastical preferments such as the priory of Saint Benoit du Sault in 1689 He was admitted to the Academie francaise on 24 July 1687 7 Works editDe Choisy wrote a number of historical and religious works of which the most notable are the following 3 Quatre dialogues sur l immortalite de l ame 1684 written with the Abbe Dangeau and explaining their conversion Histoire de l Eglise 11 vols 1703 1723 De Choisy is remembered for his gossiping Memoires 1737 which contains detailed portraits of his contemporaries although there is some question about its historical accuracy 3 The Memoires passed through many editions and were edited in 1868 by M de Lescure Some admirable letters of de Choisy are included in the correspondence of Bussy Rabutin De Choisy is said to have burnt some of their indiscreet revelations but left a considerable quantity of unpublished manuscripts Part of this material was surreptitiously used in an anonymous Histoire de madame la comtesse de Barres Antwerp 1735 and again with much editing in the Vie de M l abbe de Choisy Lausanne and Geneva 1742 ascribed by Paul Lacroix to Lenglet Dufresnoy the text was finally edited 1870 by Lacroix as Aventures de l abbe de Choisy See also Sainte Beuve Causeries du lundi vol iii 3 Influences editThe Scottish philosopher David Hume 1711 1776 had de Choisy s Memoires and account of Siam in his library 1 References edit a b Alison Gopnik 14 September 2015 How David Hume Helped Me Solve My Midlife Crisis The Atlantic Choisy Francois Timoleon abbe de Oxford Reference Retrieved 30 September 2021 a b c d e f nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Choisy Francois Timoleon Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 262 De Choisy Francois Timoleon Rose Emily 2019 Excerpt from Memoirs de l abbe de Choisy habille en femme Memoirs of the Abbot de Choisy Dressed as a Woman TSQ Transgender Studies Quarterly 6 3 448 454 doi 10 1215 23289252 7549612 S2CID 202526830 Professor casts doubt on one of history s greatest cross dressing memoirs University of Kansas 2 January 2015 Retrieved 22 February 2021 Chakrabongse C 1960 Lords of Life London Alvin Redman Francois Timoleon de CHOISY Academie francaise in French External links editFamous Trannies in Early Modern Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francois Timoleon de Choisy amp oldid 1187941242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
