Scaliger Family.

The Scaliger Family Papers, when taken together, trace the history of a noble family that was originally from Italy but lived primarily in Agen, France from the mid-1500s through the mid-1800s. Beginning with the patriarch, Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484-1558), a celebrated Italian scholar and physician, the members of the Scaliger family upheld an illustrious reputation over the centuries as scholars, military leaders, and noblemen. Throughout their family’s history, the Scaligers maintained that they were descended from the Della Scallas, Princes of Verona. It is perhaps as a result of the necessity to defend this claim as well as later attempts to prove ties to their noble heritage that this collection of papers has remained so well intact. This, in part, helps to explain why Mademoiselle Victoire de Vérone, the last surviving legitimate heir of the Scaliger family, still possessed the papers of her family dating back as early as the 1530s even though she was living in poverty.

In order to truly understand this collection it is important to first consider the founder of the family, Julius Caesar Scaliger. Over the course of his lifetime, Julius Caesar Scaliger engaged in a wide variety of pursuits. According to his own account, he began as a page in the court of Emperor Maximilian. From there, he became a soldier and was later even knighted for several acts of bravery. But, it was not for his military career that Scaliger was best known. It was rather his work as a scholar and physician that garnered him the most fame. As a young man Scaliger moved from Italy to Agen, a small town in the south of France. It was in Agen that he established a school, built a medical practice, and started a family. Overtime, Scaliger’s medical teachings became well-known as part of a revolt against strict adherence to ancient writings. He also became famous for his poetry as well as an oration he wrote violently denouncing the work of Erasmus. During the last years of his life, Scaliger worked on his most well-known book, Poetics. Published after his death, this book marked the first attempt to develop a philosophical theory of poetry. Julius Caesar Scaliger died on October 28, 1558, leaving behind a powerful legacy for his family to follow.

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