Severo - Histoire Sacrée - 1652

From the Tardoantico to the court: Christian Classicism in the splendor of the Sun King
This elegant Parisian edition of the History of Sulpice Sévère testifies to the full integration of Latin Fathers into the cultural and political project of Louis XIV's France. The French translation by Louis Giry, published here for the first time, does not merely make a late antique text accessible but redefines it according to the standards of clarity, order, and moderation characteristic of seventeenth-century classicism. The biblical story, filtered through a clear and controlled prose, thus becomes a tool for private meditation, a model of moral discipline, and a means of educating the educated elite. In this volume, theology becomes history, history becomes style, and style turns into a language for governing consciences, perfectly aligned with the ideal of balance and authority promoted by the French monarchy.
Market value
In the European antiquarian market, the first edition of Giry's French translation generally ranges between 1,200 and 1,400 euros, with fluctuations depending on the quality of the contemporary binding, the freshness of the gilding on the spine, and the condition of the pages. Particularly well-preserved copies, with clean interiors and solid structure, can fetch higher valuations, especially if they come from historic libraries.

Physical description and condition
Full brown calf leather volume, with a nervured back and decorated compartments in gold, double gold fillet framing the covers. Pages with some widespread browning, signs of use, and wear at the edges of the binding, consistent with the age and purpose of the volume. Old books with a multi-century history may have some imperfections not always noted in the description. Pages: (2), 14 unnumbered, 366, 52 unnumbered, (2).

Full title and author
Sacred history
Paris, Augustin Courbé, 1652.
Sulpicio Severo

Context and Significance
The Sacred History of Sulpicius Severus, composed between the 4th and 5th centuries, represents one of the earliest comprehensive Christian syntheses of universal history, from Creation to the apostolic age. Its rediscovery and valorization in 17th-century France responded to the need for foundational texts capable of combining patristic authority, narrative clarity, and moral rigor. Giry's translation fully aligns with the cultural climate promoted by Cardinal Mazzarino's circle, where religious literature was expected to be edifying, stylistically controlled, and politically harmonized with monarchical ideology. The work thus assumes the role of a model of Christian historical prose, in which sacred narration becomes an exercise in intellectual and moral order.

Biography of the Author
Sulpicius Severus was born in Aquitania around 363 and died after 420. A disciple of Saint Martin of Tours, he was one of the most refined Christian writers in Latin. His work is distinguished by a balance between classical rhetorical training and a profound adherence to the ascetic ideal, making him a transitional figure between late antique Roman culture and medieval Christian spirituality. The 'Historia Sacra' and the 'Vita of Saint Martin' ensured his continued and lasting fame.

Printing history and circulation
The 1652 edition marks the first printing of Louis Giry's French translation and signifies the stable entry of the work into the modern France's scholarly book circuit. Printed by Augustin Courbé, a printer known for his attention to formal quality and the dissemination of prestigious religious texts, the work experienced significant circulation, especially within legal, academic, and administrative circles, where the historical and moral clarity of the text was fully appreciated.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Brunet, J.-C., Manual of the bookseller and book lover, Paris.
Backer, A. de, Library of Ecclesiastical Writers, Paris.
Spirituality Dictionary, voice Sulpice Sévère.