About author : MAROT Clément

Clément Marot (1496-1544)

The famous XVIth century French poet put into verse the biblical Psalms that were to be sung all over France and become the well-known Huguenot Psalter. A tormented life Clément Marot was born in Cahors in 1496. He was taught poetry and rhetoric by his father who was himself a poet.

He entered the service of Lord de Villeroy and later, that of Marguerite d'Angoulême, François 1st's sister and future queen of Navarre. He replaced his father in the service of François 1st and frequented evangelical and humanistic circles. His keen interest in the Reformation and his freedom of thought caused him considerable trouble. In 1529, he was charged with heresy and sent to prison.

At the request of François 1st he was set free and became the official poet at the king's court. He was troubled again in 1532 and in 1534, after the "posters' incident'", he took refuge, first in Nierac, with Marguerite d'Angoulême and then in Ferrara, with Renée de France, Louis XII's daughter.

He abjured Protestantism in 1536 and was forgiven by the king. He went back to Paris in 1537 and once more became the official poet of the court. He was accused of heresy once more when one of his works, 'l'Enfer', was reprinted in 1542.

He took refuge with Calvin in Geneva. He died in Turin in1544.