A French medievalist who wrote extensively on the Crusades and Byzantine Empire, shedding light on the complex relationships between Eastern and Western civilizations.
Gustave Schlumberger, a French historian and numismatist, is renowned for his prolific work on the era of the Crusades and the Byzantine Empire. His magnum opus, Numismatique de l'Orient Latin, published between 1878 and 1882, remains the authoritative work on the coinage of the Crusades to this day.
Born on October 17, 1844, in Guebwiller, Alsace, Schlumberger's life was marked by a thirst for knowledge and adventure. He studied medicine in Paris from 1863 and served as a medic during the Franco-Prussian War.
After the war, he traveled extensively throughout North Africa, Syria, Asia Minor, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and Italy, before finally settling down to pursue his passion for numismatics and history. His travels and experiences greatly influenced his later research and writings.
Schlumberger's contributions to the field of numismatics earned him numerous accolades. He was awarded the medal of the Royal Numismatic Society in 1903, and was elected president of the Société des Antiquaires de France and a member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres in 1884.
Schlumberger's circle of friends and acquaintances was a veritable who's who of the literary and artistic elite of his time. He was friends with the celebrated author Edith Wharton, who described him as resembling a descendant of one of the Gauls on the Arch of Titus.
He also corresponded extensively with the Greek writer Penelope Delta, whose historical novels set in Byzantine times were influenced by their conversations. Additionally, he was acquainted with Edgar Degas, Jean-Louis Forain, and Jules Lemaître, with whom he shared a love for art and history.
Schlumberger's personal beliefs and politics have been the subject of controversy. He was an ultra-conservative and an active supporter of the anti-Dreyfusard movement, which has been criticized for its anti-Semitic undertones.
Despite these controversies, Schlumberger's contributions to the field of numismatics and history remain unparalleled. His legacy continues to inspire scholars and enthusiasts alike, and his work remains an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of the Crusades and the Byzantine Empire.
Schlumberger's extensive Crusader coin collection is housed in the Cabinet des Médailles, a department of the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris. His work continues to influence modern scholarship, and his Numismatique de l'Orient Latin remains a seminal work in the field of numismatics.
Through his life and work, Schlumberger demonstrated an unwavering dedication to his craft, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and educate generations of scholars and enthusiasts.
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