Robert Garnier (1544-90) was a French tragedian. According to many, he was both the most important tragedian of sixteenth-century France and the precursor of Corneille and Racine. In addition to occasional poetry, Garnier wrote seven tragedies and one tragic-comedy. Born near Le Mans, in La Ferté-Bernard, Garnier left to study law in Toulouse. At age 22 he won the “Eglantine” (or Sweet Briar) prize, the highest award available at the poetry competition known as the “Jeux Floraux de Toulouse” (Floral Games of Toulouse). After his law studies, he became an avocat in the French Parlement. By 1574 he had become the lieutenant criminel of Le Maine. He was a Catholic and a supporter of the monarchy, a theme developed in his “Chants royaux en allegorie” (1564-66) and “Hymne de la Monarchie” (1567), dedicated to Charles...
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Citation: Usher, Phillip John. "Robert Garnier". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 September 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1691, accessed 09 June 2026.]
