Voltaire
- Events
- 2
- Episodes
- 7
- Years
- 1761–1766
Every event in Historedia whose sources name Voltaire, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.
Events and episodes
Execution of Jean Calas
1761–1764Role: Philosopher and advocate for Calas
- Death of Marc-Antoine Calas
Marc-Antoine Calas was found dead in the family home in October 1761, triggering the investigation into his father.
- Sentencing to the Wheel
The court sentenced Jean Calas to be broken on the wheel on 9 March 1762.
- Execution of Jean Calas
Jean Calas was executed on 10 March 1762 in Toulouse despite his protestations of innocence.
- Annulment of Sentence
King Louis XV annulled the sentence against Jean Calas in 1764 following Voltaire's advocacy.
- Death of Marc-Antoine Calas
Execution of François-Jean de la Barre
1765–1766Role: author of the Philosophical Dictionary burned with la Barre's body; champion of la Barre's case
- Vandalism of the Abbeville crucifix
A wooden crucifix on an Abbeville bridge was vandalized on 9 August 1765, provoking shock in the devout town.
- Contested causes and blame for the condemnation
Later accounts disputed who bore responsibility: Cassen blamed Belleval, while Linguet and Le Cri du sang innocent blamed judge Duval de Soicourt.
- Sentence handed down by Duval de Soicourt
On 20 February 1766, Duval de Soicourt and two other judges convicted la Barre of blasphemy and sacrilege and ordered torture before execution.
- Vandalism of the Abbeville crucifix
Sources
- Jean Calas Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-19
- Toulouse Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-29
- François-Jean de la Barre Wikipedia, revision of 2026-04-23