Arvieux, Laurent d’, 1635-1702

The chevalier d’Arvieux’s Travels in Arabia the Desart; Written by Himself, and Publish’d by Mr. De La Roque; Giving a Very Accurate and Entertaining Account of the Religion, Rights, Customs, Diversions, &c. of the Bedouins, or Arabian Scenites. Undertaken by Order of the late French King to which is added, A General Description of Arabia, by Sultan Ishmael Abulfeda, translated from the best manuscripts; with notes.

London: B. Barker and C. King [et al.] 1718.

D’Arvieux’s major claim to fame was the treaty he negotiated with Tunisia in 1668 to free 380 Frenchmen who had been held in slavery; four years later he exercised his persuasive powers on the Turkish divan. He was later sent, with the title of consul, to Algeria. Pope Innocent X offered him the grander title of Bishop of Babylon, which he declined. His “Traite des moeurs et coutumes des Arabes” was published in Paris in 1717, fifteen years after d’ Arvieux’s death.