Molière | Timeline

Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière (15 January 1622 – 17 February 1673), was a French playwright, actor and poet, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the French language and universal literature. His extant works includes comedies, farces, tragicomedies, comédie-ballets, and more. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed at the Comédie-Française more often than those of any other playwright today. His influence is such that the French language itself is often referred to as the "language of Molière". (Intro from Wikipedia)

January 15, 1622 - Paris - Jean-Baptiste Poquelin is born
June 30, 1643 - Paris - Jean-Baptiste founds the "Illustre Théâtre" together with actress Madeleine Béjart =(START)
August 1, 1645 - Paris - The new theatre troupe goes bankrupt. Jean-Baptiste is arrested for 24 hours because of the group's debts. Shortly after he begins using the pseudonym "Molière", after a village he knew, and to spare his father of the shame of having an actor as a son
October(?) 1(?), 1645 - Paris - The attempt of the "Illustre Théâtre" to establish itself in the capital having definitely failed, the troop is dispersed. From the month of October, Molière leaves Paris, followed a few months later by Madeleine, Joseph and Geneviève Béjart.
January(?) 1(?), 1646 - Bordeaux(?) - They all join the traveling troupe led by Charles Dufresne, who was then protected and maintained by the powerful Duke of Epernon, governor of Guyenne.
May 12, 1646 - Nantes - The "comédiens du seigneur duc d'Épernon" perform at Nantes
July 20(?), 1647 - Agen - In the second half of July, the troupe performs in front of the Count d'Aubijoux, lieutenant of the king in Languedoc, when he arrives in Agen.
October 1(?), 1647 - Carcassone - The troupe performs in Carcassonne and are praised for it
April 23, 1648 - Nantes - The troupe arrives in Nantes. A certain "Mr.Morlierre" asks for permition to perform
December 1, 1648 - Poitiers - Molière attends the funeral of Madeleine de Varannes, Charles Dufresne's wife
May 4, 1649 - Toulouse - The troupe performs at Toulouse
December 1(?), 1649 - Narbonne - The troupe performs at Narbonne until January
February 1(?), 1650 - Agen - The troupe performs at Agen by order of the Duke of Épernon
October 24, 1650 - Pézenas - The troup performs a few times during the States of Languedoc
January 14, 1651 - Pézenas - End of the States of Languedoc and the troup's performances there
August 1(?), 1652 - Grenoble - The troupe performs at Grenoble
December 1(?), 1652 - Lyon - The troupe performs at Lyon
February 1(?), 1653 - Lyon - The troupe performs at Lyon. Molière begins writing "L'Étourdi ou les Contretemps"
September 1(?), 1653 - Pézenas - The troupe performs before the Prince de Conti and receives his patronage
December 7, 1653 - Montpellier - The comedians of the Prince of Conti perform at Grenoble
November 2, 1654 - Vienne - Performance of Molière's "L'Étourdi ou les Contretemps"
February 1(?), 1655 - Montpellier - performance of "Ballet des Incompatibles" before the Princes of Conti
April 1(?), 1655 - Lyon - The troupe arrives in Lyon for a 5 or 6 months stay
November 4, 1655 - Pézenas - Beginning of the States of Languedoc. The troupe performs several times until February 22nd
February 26, 1656 - Narbonne - Performances in Narbonne until May 3rd
August 15, 1656 - Bordeaux - Performances in Bordeaux until December 5th
December 9, 1656 - Agen - Arrival at Agen. The Prince of Conti withraws his protection and the troupe uses its old name
December 16, 1656 - Béziers - Molière writes "Le Dépit amoureux"
February 6, 1657 - Lyon - Performances in Lyon until June 4th
June 15, 1657 - Dijon - Performances in Dijon until August 28th
December 24, 1657 - Lyon - Performances in Lyon until December 31st
January 1(?), 1658 - Lyon - Performances in Lyon until February 27th
March 1(?), 1658 - Grenoble - The troupe is at Grenoble for Carnival
June 20, 1658 - Rouen - Performances in Rouen until July 12th
October 24, 1658 - Louvre Palace, Paris - Successful performance of Pierre Corneille's "Nicomède" and Molière's "Le Docteur Amoureux" in front of the young Louis XIV, Anne of Austria and the Court at the Louvre
November 3, 1658 - Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon - Official premiere of "L'Étourdi ou les Contretemps"
April 18, 1659 - Paris - Premiere of "Le Médecin volant"
June 14, 1659 - Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon, Paris - Premiere of "Le Dépit Amoureux"
November 2, 1659 - Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon, Paris - Premiere of "Les Précieuses Ridicules"
May 28, 1660 - Paris - Premiere of "Sganarelle, ou Le Cocu imaginaire", at the "Théâtre du Petit-Bourbon"
November 11, 1660 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Antoine de Ratabon, Superintendent of the King's Buildings, orders the commencement of the demolition of Petit-Bourbon, to make way for the future colonnade of the Louvre. A new room, located in the Palais Royal, residence of Philippe d'Orleans and Henriette of England, is placed at the disposal of the Troupe de Monsieur, which will share it, again, with the Italian actors.
January 20, 1661 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Molière opens the Théâtre du Palais-Royal, which had been abandoned
August 15, 1661 - Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, Maincy SE. of Paris - The troupe arrives at Nicolas Fouquet's chateau for the inauguration ceremonies
August 17, 1661 - Vaux-le-Vicomte - Performance of the Ballet-Comedy "Les Fâcheux" before Louis XIV and his Court. Music by Lully
February 20, 1662 - Paris - 40-year-old Molière marries 17-year-old Armande Béjart at the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois
December 26, 1662 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "L'École des femmes"
January 19, 1664 - Paris - First son Louis is born
January 29, 1664 - Louvre Palace, Paris - Performance of "Le Mariage Forcé". Music by Lully
May 12, 1664 - Palace of Versailles - Premiere of "Tartuffe" as part of the festivities known as "Les Plaisirs de l'Ile enchanté". It causes scandal and censorship
September 25, 1664 - Villers-Cotterêts - Private performance of the original version of  "Tartuffe"
November 11, 1664 - Paris - First son Louis dies in infancy
November 29, 1664 - Château du Raincy - Private performance of the original version of  "Les Plaisirs de l'Ile enchanté"
February 15, 1665 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Dom Juan". Performance of "Festin de Pierre"
June 13, 1665 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Performance of "La Coquette ou Le Favori" for King Louis XIV, which gives his protection to the troupe, which becomes "La troupe du Roi au Palais-Royal"
August 3, 1665 - Paris - Daughter Marie Madeleine Esprit is born
September 22, 1665 - Palace of Versailles - Premiere of "L'Amour médecin" in front of Louis XIV. Music by Lully
June 4, 1666 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Le Misanthrope"
August 6, 1666 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Le Médecin malgré lui"
January 5, 1667 - Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Premiere of "Le Sicilien". Performance of "La Pastorale". Music by Lully
August 5, 1667 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "L'imposteur", a revised version of "Tartuffe". Banned on 11/8
September 14, 1667 - Versailles - Performance of "L'amour Médecin". Music by Lully
January 13, 1668 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Amphitryon"
January 16, 1668 - Tuileries Garden, Paris - Performance of "Amphitryon" at the Tuileries Garden in the presence of Louis XIV
August 18, 1668 - Versailles - Performance of "Le Grand Divertissement royal de Versailles". Music by Lully
September 9, 1668 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "L'Avare"
February 5, 1669 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Performance of a revised version of "Le Tartuffe", after being censored twice. This time titled "Panulphe" or "L'Imposteur"
October 6, 1669 - Chambord - Performance of "Le Divertissement de Chambord". Music by Lully
February 7, 1670 - Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Performance of "Le divertissement royal (Les Amants Magnifiques)
October 14, 1670 - Chambord - Performance of "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". Music by Lully
November 23, 1670 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Performance of "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme". Music by Lully
January 17, 1671 - Théâtre des Tuileries, Paris - Performance of "Psyché" before the Royal Court, with music by Lully
May 24, 1671 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Les Fourberies de Scapin"
December 2, 1671 - Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Premiere of "La Comtesse d'Escarbagnas"
January 9, 1672 - Paris - Madeleine Béjart writes her will and testament. She renounces to the profession of comedian, to be able to receive the last sacraments and be buried the christian way
February 17, 1672 - Paris - Madeleine Béjart dies in her apartment, aged 54
February 19, 1672 - Paris - Molière attends Madeleine Béjart's burial at the gardens of Saint-Paul Church
March 11, 1672 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Les Femmes Savantes"
September 15, 1672 - Paris - Second son Pierre Jean-Baptiste Armand is born
September 20, 1672 - Paris - A "privilège" gives Lully the exclusive rights to print his music and also the texts to which the music is set
October 11, 1672 - Paris - Second son Pierre Jean-Baptiste Armand dies in infancy
February 10, 1673 - Théâtre du Palais-Royal, Paris - Premiere of "Le Malade Imaginaire"
February 17, 1673 - Paris - Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, the "Molière", dies after collapsing during the fourth performance of "Le Malade Imaginaire", consequence of pulmonary tuberculosis, aged 51 =(END)