Charles Louis de Montesquieu
La Brède
Summary
I am an author, lawyer, philosopher, and political historian. During my time in the legal profession, I practised law for 18 years—first as an advocate, then as a magistrate in the Bordeaux Parlement. In publishing, I wrote several books on customs, religion, society, law, and governance, which were very successful. As a historian, I studied European political systems, examining Roman, French, and canon law. My career goal is to pursue work that applies rigorous analysis and comparative research to improve modern governance and legal thought.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
Work History
Author and Philosopher
01.1721 - 01.1755
- I wrote L’Esprit des lois, a book on political theory about the separation of powers, used by many national constitutions today, and conducted studies throughout Europe to examine how culture, religion, and climate shape legal systems.
President à Mortier (Senior Judge)
Parlement de Bordeaux
01.1716 - 01.1728
- I served as a lawyer, and then the senior judge in the Parlement de Bordeaux, overseeing judicial proceedings in one of France’s major regional parliaments, applying regional and royal law to civil and criminal cases in Bordeaux.
Education
Académie De Bordeaux
License - Law
University of Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France05-1710
Skills
- Political philosophy
- Constitutional theory
- Comparative law
- Judicial analysis
- Social and cultural research
- Governmental systems & institutional design
- Public speaking & academic debate
Websites
Languages
French
Native or Bilingual
Latin
Native or Bilingual
Italian
Professional Working
English
Full Professional
Greek
Professional Working
Honours
I am a key Enlightenment thinker whose ideas influenced political systems in France, the United States, and governments around the world, and I am also a member of the prestigious Académie Française, the leading authority for literary and cultural expression in France.
Publications
- L’Esprit des lois (1748): Advocates separation of powers (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent tyranny.
- Persian Letters (1721): Satirical novel; uses fictional letters to critique French society, politics, and religion.
- Réflexions sur la monarchie universelle en Europe: Explores the dangers of universal empires in Europe.
Sources
- Shackleton, & Robert. (2025, October 18). Montesquieu | Biography, Spirit of the Laws, Separation of Powers, Books, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Montesquieu
- (Baron De Montesquieu, Charles-Louis De Secondat (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy), 2014)
- The Spirit of the Laws (1748). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/montesquieuthe-spirit-of-the-laws-1748
Timeline
Académie De Bordeaux
License - Law
University of Bordeaux
Author and Philosopher
01.1721 - 01.1755
President à Mortier (Senior Judge)
Parlement de Bordeaux
01.1716 - 01.1728