Nicolas Bergier

Nicolas Bergier, Avocat au Siège Présidial de Rheims, lived in 17th-century Rheims and became interested in Roman roads there. Mentioning by chance his interest in the funding of Roman roads to Conde du Lis, advisor to Louis XIII, he found himself suddenly commanded by the king to undertake a study of all Roman roads. Five years later he published his Histoire des Grands Chemins de l'Empire Romain, a two-volume work of over 1000 pages. There were many subsequent editions. This first scholarly study of Roman roads included engravings of the Tabula Peutingeriana. Edward Gibbon consulted Bergier's work while researching his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.