45 moments

1. Born at La Haye en Touraine

   1596-03-31 · Descartes, Indre-et-Loire, France

   

   Descartes was born in his maternal grandmother's house in the Touraine settlement later renamed Descartes. Coordinates represent the town containing the documented birthplace.

2. Baptized at Saint George

   1596-04-04 · Church of Saint George, Descartes, Indre-et-Loire, France

   Four days after his birth, Descartes was baptized in La Haye's Roman Catholic church. Date is calculated from the independently documented birth date; coordinates approximate the church site.

3. Enters the College of La Flèche

   1607-01-01 · Jesuit College of La Flèche, La Flèche, Sarthe, France

   

   Descartes became a boarder at the Jesuit college where he studied classics, philosophy, mathematics, and natural science. Some biographers propose an earlier entrance, but 1607 is supported by the cited source.

4. Studies law at Poitiers

   1615-01-01 · University of Poitiers, Poitiers, Vienne, France

   

   Descartes began two years of legal study at Poitiers, ultimately receiving qualifications in canon and civil law. Coordinates represent central Poitiers because the source does not identify a surviving instructional building.

5. Moves to Paris after university

   1616-01-01 · Paris, France

   After completing his legal education, Descartes relocated to Paris, an early center of his mathematical and social life. The move is sequentially placed after his studies ended in 1616; no more precise date or Paris address is supplied.

6. Joins the Dutch army at Breda

   1618-01-01 · Breda, North Brabant, Netherlands

   

   Descartes joined Maurice of Nassau's army at Breda and pursued military engineering and mathematics, including work with Isaac Beeckman.

7. Experiences the dream night at Neuburg

   1619-11-10 · Neuburg an der Donau, Bavaria, Germany

   

   While wintering with Bavarian forces, Descartes experienced the celebrated sequence of dreams that he interpreted as directing his intellectual vocation. Some scholarship places the episode at Ulm rather than Neuburg; the date is more secure than the location.

8. Winters with the army in Bohemia

   1620-01-01 · Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic

   

   After White Mountain, Descartes remained with the army in southern Bohemia during the winter campaign season. The source names only the broad region; coordinates are a representative point in southern Bohemia.

9. Observes the Battle of White Mountain

   1620-11-08 · White Mountain battlefield, Prague, Czech Republic

   

   Serving with Catholic forces, Descartes witnessed the battle that defeated the Bohemian revolt near Prague. Coordinates represent the historic White Mountain battlefield.

10. Serves in Hungary

    1621-01-01 · Hungary

    Descartes continued his military-associated travels in Hungary under the imperial commander Count Bucquoy. No Hungarian town or deployment site is identified; coordinates represent the country.

11. Returns to his father's home at Rennes

    1622-01-01 · Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, France

    

    Descartes traveled from Belgium to his father's residence in Rennes while reorganizing his personal and financial affairs. No address within Rennes is identified.

12. Visits Paris during property settlement

    1622-01-01 · Paris, France

    During the same period in which he liquidated inherited holdings, Descartes also visited Paris. The source supports a Paris visit during the early-1620s French activity but supplies no month.

13. Visits Poitou to sell inherited property

    1622-01-01 · Poitou, France

    

    Descartes visited Poitou while disposing of inherited property, helping secure the independent income that supported his later scholarship. The historical region rather than a specific estate is supported; coordinates are representative.

14. Reappears in Belgium

    1622-02-01 · Belgium

    

    Following an extended northern European journey, Descartes was documented in Belgium before returning to his family in France. The source does not specify a Belgian settlement; coordinates represent Belgium.

15. Settles again in Paris

    1625-06-01 · Paris, France

    

    After years of travel, Descartes established himself in Paris and worked with Marin Mersenne and Claude Mydorge on mathematics and optics. The particular Paris quarter is not securely identified by the quoted source.

16. Meets Bérulle after returning to Paris

    1628-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Back in Paris after La Rochelle, Descartes attended the intellectual gathering at which Cardinal Bérulle encouraged him to devote himself to philosophy. The source establishes Paris and sequence but not a precise date or venue.

17. Rejoins the siege at La Rochelle

    1628-10-01 · La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France

    

    Descartes traveled west to observe the concluding operations of the royal siege and entered La Rochelle with the troops. The English Wikipedia biography instead dates his presence broadly to 1627, during the longer siege period.

18. Reunites with Beeckman at Dordrecht

    1628-10-08 · Dordrecht, South Holland, Netherlands

    Descartes met Isaac Beeckman in Dordrecht as he renewed his Dutch scientific connections. The French quotation states that Descartes met Beeckman at Dordrecht on 8 October 1628.

19. Lives in Amsterdam

    1629-01-01 · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    Amsterdam became one of Descartes's recurring Dutch residences during the early development of his mature scientific system. The card date marks the beginning of the documented 1629–1630 residence; no street address is supplied.

20. Studies at Franeker

    1629-04-01 · University of Franeker, Franeker, Friesland, Netherlands

    Descartes joined the University of Franeker and studied under mathematician and astronomer Adriaan Metius. Coordinates represent central Franeker near the former university complex.

21. Enrolls at Leiden University

    1630-01-01 · Leiden University, Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Using the name Poitevin, Descartes enrolled at Leiden and studied mathematics with Jacobus Golius and astronomy with Martin Hortensius. Coordinates represent the historic university area.

22. Makes a scientific visit to England

    1630-01-01 · England, United Kingdom

    Descartes briefly traveled to England to investigate reports concerning magnetic phenomena. The source identifies only England; coordinates are a representative national point.

23. Returns to an Amsterdam residence

    1630-01-01 · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    After Leiden, Descartes resumed living in Amsterdam, where he worked on optics, meteorology, and the projected treatise The World. The card marks the start of a documented residence lasting into 1632.

24. Moves to Deventer

    1632-01-01 · Deventer, Overijssel, Netherlands

    

    Descartes lived in Deventer, associated with Henricus Reneri, while developing his physics and Treatise on Man. The source documents residence from 1632; Wikipedia extends the period through 1634.

25. Resumes residence in Amsterdam

    1634-01-01 · Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes again made Amsterdam his base after his Deventer period, continuing work on natural philosophy. The card marks the beginning of the documented 1634–1635 residence.

26. Takes an excursion to Denmark

    1634-01-01 · Denmark

    

    During his Dutch period, Descartes made a geographically distinct excursion to Denmark. No Danish destination is identified; coordinates represent Denmark.

27. Follows Reneri to Utrecht

    1635-01-01 · Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

    

    Descartes moved to Utrecht as Reneri's teaching helped establish an early audience for Cartesian physics. The source establishes the city but not Descartes's address.

28. Establishes an Egmond residence

    1636-01-01 · Egmond, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes moved from Leiden to the rural Egmond area, seeking the seclusion that characterized much of his Dutch working life. The source says only Egmond; coordinates represent Egmond aan den Hoef, but the precise village or house is uncertain.

29. Moves to Leiden for publication work

    1636-03-01 · Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes relocated to Leiden while arranging publication of the Discourse on the Method and its accompanying scientific essays. The month is approximate in the source.

30. Moves to Santpoort

    1638-01-01 · Santpoort, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Santpoort became Descartes's next documented residence during the period in which he began composing the Meditations. The card marks the start of a residence documented through 1640.

31. Returns to Leiden for the Meditations

    1640-01-01 · Leiden, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes returned to Leiden and remained there while preparing the Meditations for publication. The referenced publication is the Meditations on First Philosophy.

32. Resides at Castle Endegeest

    1641-01-01 · Castle Endegeest, Oegstgeest, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes lived at Castle Endegeest near Oegstgeest during the publication of the Meditations and development of the Principles. Coordinates represent Castle Endegeest; the card date marks the beginning of the residence.

33. Relocates north of Amsterdam

    1643-01-01 · Amsterdam-Noord, Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

    Descartes moved onward from The Hague to the area north of Amsterdam before settling again in Egmond. The source gives only the area north of Amsterdam; coordinates are representative rather than a documented address.

34. Seeks refuge in The Hague

    1643-01-01 · The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands

    

    Amid the Utrecht controversy over Cartesian philosophy, Descartes fled to The Hague. No address or more precise date is supplied.

35. Settles at Egmond-Binnen

    1643-01-01 · Egmond-Binnen, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes began an extended residence in the Egmond area during which he corresponded with Princess Elisabeth and completed major late works. Sources vary between Egmond-Binnen and nearby Egmond aan den Hoef for portions of this period, and the inn is not securely identified.

36. Visits Paris during a French journey

    1644-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Descartes passed through Paris during the first of his three late visits to France. The source identifies the itinerary but not the dates or addresses of the individual stops.

37. Meets Pascal in Paris

    1647-09-23 · Paris, France

    

    Descartes met the ailing Blaise Pascal during a celebrated Paris encounter concerning scientific and philosophical questions; they met again the following day. The editorial source places both interviews in Paris; the exact residence or meeting room is not securely identified.

38. Returns to Egmond with Picot

    1647-10-01 · Egmond, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    After the Paris journey, Descartes and Claude Picot returned to the United Provinces and spent the winter together at Egmond. The source says Egmond without distinguishing Egmond-Binnen from Egmond aan den Hoef.

39. Arrives in Fronde-era Paris

    1648-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Summoned by royal promises of honors and a position, Descartes returned to Paris but found the capital disrupted by the opening of the Fronde. Other biographical evidence places this visit during the summer of 1648; no precise arrival date is used here.

40. Interviewed by Frans Burman at Egmond

    1648-01-01 · Egmond-Binnen, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    The young theologian Frans Burman interviewed Descartes at his Egmond residence, producing an important record of the philosopher's explanations of his work. The source provides the year but not the interview date or exact building.

41. Leaves Egmond for Sweden

    1649-09-01 · Egmond, North Holland, Netherlands

    

    Descartes departed his long-term Dutch base aboard a vessel bound north after accepting Queen Christina's invitation. The source supplies the month but not the departure day or precise embarkation point.

42. Arrives in Stockholm

    1649-10-01 · Stockholm, Sweden

    

    At the beginning of October, Descartes reached Stockholm to join Queen Christina's learned court. The Swedish quotation states that Descartes arrived in Stockholm at the beginning of October 1649 and lodged in Chanut's home.

43. Lives in Chanut's Västerlånggatan house

    1649-10-01 · Västerlånggatan, Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden

    

    Descartes stayed in the Stockholm home of French diplomat Pierre Chanut and conducted barometric observations there. The street is documented, but the surviving source does not give a house number; coordinates represent Västerlånggatan.

44. Tutors Queen Christina at Tre Kronor

    1650-01-01 · Tre Kronor Castle site, Stockholm, Sweden

    

    Descartes attended early-morning philosophy sessions with Queen Christina in Stockholm's royal castle. The lessons began in January 1650; Tre Kronor was later destroyed and the coordinates mark its site within the present Royal Palace complex.

45. Dies at Chanut's Stockholm residence

    1650-02-11 · Västerlånggatan, Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden

    

    After a severe respiratory illness, Descartes died at the residence of Pierre Chanut, ending his brief Swedish period. The documented residence was on Västerlånggatan, but its exact house number and therefore the exact death-site coordinate remain uncertain.