Laurent d’Arvieux (June 21, 1635 – October 30, 1702) was a French traveler and diplomat born in Marseille . [1]
He was known for his travels in the Middle East , which began in 1654 as a merchant in the Ottoman port of Smyrna . From 1658 traveled across the Levant (Lebanon, Syria and Palestine) and in 1666 visited Tunis . Later he returned to France, and in 1674-75 was assigned as consul to Algiers , then later served as consul to Aleppo from 1679 to 1686.
Arab and Turkish societies, and gained important insight involving all facets of their culture and customs. He is also familiar with the languages of the region, and has learned to speak Arabic , Turkish , Persian , Hebrew and Syriac languages . Because of his knowledge of Turkish manners and dress he collaborated with Molière on the development of The Bourgeois Gentleman .
At the time of his death, he left behind a manuscript of his memoirs, a portion of which was edited by Jean de la Roque (1661-1745) and published in 1717 as travel in Palestine . Later Arvieux’s memoirs were edited and published in their entirety by Jean-Baptiste Labat (1663-1738) as Memoirs of the Chevalier d’Arvieux (6 volumes, 1735). A Warren Lewis , entitled Levantine Adventurer: The Travels and Missions of the Knight of Arvieux 1653-1697 .