Victor Langlois (Վիքթոր Լանկլուա)

20-Mar-1829 in Dieppe, France

14-May-1869 in Paris, France

Victor Langlois (1829–1869) was a notable French historian, archaeologist, professor, numismatist, and orientalist, renowned for his expertise in Medieval studies and his significant contributions to Armenian history and culture. His work in numismatics, particularly pertaining to Armenian history, makes him a prominent figure in the field.

Early Life and Education
Victor Langlois was born on March 20, 1829, in Dieppe, France. He received a comprehensive education at the École Nationale des Chartes and the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.

Career and Contributions
Langlois' career was marked by a deep dedication to the study of history and numismatics. His most notable work began in 1852 when, at the age of 23, he was commissioned by the French government to study in Cilicia, within the Ottoman Empire, focusing on historic French and Armenian relations, particularly during the Crusades. His findings during this expedition were later published in his 1861 book "Voyage dans la Cilicie et dans les montagnes du Taurus" (Travels in Cilicia and the Taurus Mountains). Langlois' excavations in the necropolis of Tarsus, where he discovered terracotta figures, were significant enough to be exhibited in the Louvre.

From 1857 to 1861, Langlois traveled in Italy, researching the historical connections between France and Armenia during the Crusades. His vast expertise also covered Egyptian and Georgian numismatics and he wrote extensively about the Armenian Mekhitarist congregation and the San Lazzaro degli Armeni convent.

Key Publications
Langlois authored more than thirty books on Armenian history, making significant contributions to the field of numismatics. Some of his key works include:
- "Rapport sur l'exploration archéologique de la Cilicie et de la Petite-Arménie" (1854)
- "Essai historique et critique sur la constitution sociale et politique de l'Arménie sous les rois de la dynastie roupénienne" (1860)
- "Notice sur le couvent arménien de l'île Saint-Lazare de Venise" (1863)
- "Mémoire sur la vie et les écrits de Grégoire Magistros" (1869)
- "Collection des historiens anciens et modernes de l'Arménie" (1869)
- "Histoire des Arméniens" (1880)
- "Historicorum Graecorum et Syriorum reliquiae in Armeniorum scriptis servatae" (1884)

Legacy and Membership
A member of the Academy of Sciences of Turin and the Société Asiatique, Langlois' work left a lasting impact in the fields of history and numismatics. He became a professor at the Collège de France in Paris, where he continued his scholarly pursuits until his untimely death on May 14, 1869, at the age of 40.

Langlois' contributions, particularly his extensive research and publications on Armenian numismatics, continue to be invaluable resources for scholars and enthusiasts in the field. His legacy lives on through his works, which remain essential references in Armenian historical studies and numismatic research.