Bellay, Joachim du 1522-60
French poet and prose writer

Born in Lir�, he was, after his friend and fellow-student Pierre de Ronsard, the most important member of the Pl�iade. His D�fense et illustration de la langue fran�aise (1549, 'Defence and Illustration of the French Language'), the manifesto of the Pl�iade, advocating the rejection of medieval linguistic traditions and a return to classical and Italian models, had a considerable influence at the time. It was accompanied by an example in the form of a set of Petrarchan sonnets, l'Olive, dedicated to an unknown lady. A visit to Rome in 1533 inspired more sonnets, including the collections Les Antiquit�s de Rome ('Roman Antiquities') and Les Regrets (1558).

Bibliography: L Clark Keating, Joachim du Bellay (1976)