Today in History

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may 16 Learn More Voltaire Imprisoned


Prodigious French writer and philosopher Voltaire was imprisoned in the Bastille on this day in 1717. Of course, then he was still known as François-Marie Arouet. He adopted the name Voltaire while he was locked up. In addition to making him sound pretty gnarly, the name was also meant to signify a split from his past, especially his family.

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