Politica e censura nella Francia di Louis XIV: Chavigny de La Bretonnière

Abstract

During the reign of Louis XIV French libertines were expressing their intellectual dissent by opposing absolutism and criticising historical and religious conflicts. While in France, before abrogating the Edict of Nantes, any opposition was suppressed, Chavigny de La Bretonniere supported a revolt against the Church and political power. The prominent role of clandestine literature in Old Regime France will be analysed in this paper by considering critical studies about libertinage. In particular, the political and antireligious discourse carried on by this author will be highlighted by taking into account his ‘lardons’, satirical articles against French government, his erotic novel La Religieuse en chemise and his ecclesiastic pamphlet Le Cochon mitre. In a true editorial campaign, Chavigny de La Bretonniere attaches French royal power, through the use of satire he depicts corrupted prelates as obscene creatures and he reforms libertine dialogue by enhancing broad political purposes. As a response to his critics and claims, Chavigny was kidnapped, tortured and imprisoned for life. His name disappeared from history.