REINAUD, Joseph-Toussaint. Lambesc (Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence) 4.12.1795 — Paris 14.5.1867. Abbé. French Oriental (Arabic and Persian) Scholar and Historian. Professor in Paris. After seminary in Aix-en-Provence studied theology from 1814 in Paris, where he soon became student of Silvestre de Sacy. As secretary of de Portalis he continued his studies in 1818-19 in Rome. There made acquaintance of Maronites and became interested in numismatics. Back in Paris he arranged the Oriental part the art collection of de Blacas (publ. in 1820-28). From 1824 he worked in Bibliothèque nationale (then B. royale). From 1832 member of A.I.B.L. (succeeding Chézy). In 1838 he succeeded Silvestre de Sacy as Professor of Arabic at É.L.O.V. From 1854 also Conservator of Oriental manuscripts at Bibliothèque nationale (then impériale). In 1847-67 also President of Société asiatique. Among his students were several noted Arabists. Officer of Légion d’honneur 1858.
Reinaud was a historian whose interests extended from Europe to India. Michaud’s history led him to study the crusades and soon also other relations between Medieval Europe and Islam (e.g. Ramon Lull). From Silvestre de Sacy he inherited Abū’l-Fidā. He was much interested in Arabic and Persian accounts of India and wrote works which were often consulted by Indologists (such as Lassen). He was the first to present al-Bīrūnī, just discovered by S. Munk. Beside history he worked on Islamic geography.The majority of the texts presented by him were still unedited manuscripts. Following the French tradition he did not furnish his books with indexes, not even with a detailed list of contents.
Publications: “Explication de cinq médailles des anciens rois musulmans du Bengale”, JA 3, 1823, 272-293.
– Studies on crusades in Arabic sources in the JA 8, 1826; 11, 1827; 2:4, 1829; as a book in 1830; Invasions des Sarrasins en France. 13+324 p. P. 1836; edited with McGuckin de Slane, Geographie d’Aboul’Feda. P. 1840; translated the same. 1. P. 1848; numerous other works and articles (JA, MAIBL) on Arabic literature and history.
– “Fragments arabes et persans relatifs à l’Inde”, JA 4:4, 1844, 114-209, 221-300 & 4:5, 1845, 121-192; transl. Relations des voyages faits par les arabes et les persans dans l’Inde et à la Chine, dans le IXe siècle de l’ère chrétienne. 1-2. 180+154+105+202 p. P. 1845; “Mémoire géographique, historique et scientifique sur l’Inde. Antérieurement au milieu du XIe siècle … d’après les écrivains arabes, persans et chinois”, MAIBL 17:2, 1849, 1-399, 565f.
– “Mémoire sur le commencement et la fin du royaume de la Mésène et la Kharacène, d’après les témoignages grecs, latins, arabes, persans, indiens et chinois”, JA 5:18, 1861, 161-262; “Relations politiques et commerciales de l’empire romain avec l’Asie orientale (l’Hyrcanie, l’Inde, la Bactriane et la Chine) pendant les cinq premiers siècles de l’ère chrétienne, d’après les témoignages latins, grecs, arabes, persans, indiens et chinois”, JA 6:1, 1863, 93-234 & 297-441 (short version in CRAI 1863, 67-108, 343-345); “Mémoire sur le royaume de la Mésène et de la Kharacène, d’après les témoignages grecs, latins, arabes et persans”, Mémoires de l’institut impérial de France, A.I.B.L. (MAIBL) 24:2, 1864, 155-224; “Mémoire sur le Périple de la mer Érythrée et sur la navigation des mers orientales au milieu du troisième siècle de l’ère chrétienne d’après les témoignages grecs, latins, arabes, persans, indiens et chinois”, Mémoires de l’institut impérial de France, A.I.B.L. (MAIBL) 24:2, 1864, 225-277 (English in IA 8, 1879, 330-338).
Sources: *M. Amari, Rivista Orientale 1, 1867, 322-328; G. Dugat, Histoire des orientalistes. P. 1868, 186-232; Fück 1955, 153; Gosche, ZDMG, Jb. für 1862-67, 49-52; *J. Mohl, JA 6:10, 1867, 18-25; L. Valensi, D.O.L.F. 810; Windisch 151-154; Wikipedia (see also French version, with portrait).
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