In 1477 Raymond Eyquem, a well-off merchant of Bordeaux who had made his fortune by dealing in wine, salt fish, and woad, as well as by marrying an heiress, purchased the noble property of Montaigne, which took its name from the adjoining village situated on a little hill. His immediate descendants continued his business and increased the family fortune to the extent that Pierre, grandson of Raymond, and the first Eyquem to be born in the Château de Montaigne, was able to devote his life mainly to the properly noble occupation of arms, seeing service in various campaigns, notably in Italy, as well as serving his city of Bordeaux, first as a jurat – a councillor – and then as Mayor. At the age of thirty-three he married …
3617 words
Citation: Gauna, Max. "Michel de Montaigne". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 07 May 2004 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=3160, accessed 21 November 2024.]