BOULAY, CÉSAR ÉGASSE DU (BULAEUS)

Educator and historian; b. Saint-Elier (Mayenne), c. 1600; d. Paris, Oct. 16, 1678. Boulay's early career was that of teacher of humanities and rhetoric, first at Poitiers, then at the College of Navarre. In 1661 he was named rector of the University of Paris. In 1662 he was made registrar of the University. He is best known as an historian of the University of Paris. Between 1665 and 1673 he published a six-volume history of the University in Latin, entitled Historia Universitatis Parisiensis, covering the period from its origins to the time of its reformation by Henry IV. Boulay also wrote an abridged version in French, Histoire de l'université, as well as seven separate works in French on the organization and history of the university. His work is less a conventional history than a collection of documents to support his interpretation of the origins of the University. According to Boulay the University was founded by Charlemagne and consisted originally only of the faculty of arts and the four nations. This interpretation, which gave to the faculty of arts exclusive rights to name the rector and to the four nations equal status with the faculties of theology, medicine, and law, was challenged by the interested parties. He was also accused of misappropriating funds for the writing of his books. He died before the latter charge was investigated.

Bibliography: c. h. jourdain, Histoire de l'Université de Paris au XVIIe et XVIIIe siècle (Paris 1862). a. tuilier, Histoire de l'Université de Paris et de la Sorbonne (Paris 1994). j. m. gresgayer, Le Gallicanisme de Sorbonne, 1656–1688 (Paris 2001).

[j. w. bush/

j. m. gres-gayer]