Paul-Alexis Mellet is a French early modern historian and expert in the political and religious ideas from early modernity. He is a professor at the University of Geneva (College of Letters) and a member of the Institute of Reformation History. Formerly, he was a professor at the University of Cergy-Pontoise, and at the University of Tours (Center for Advanced Renaissance Studies).
His specializations include the history of political ideas and the history of religious practices of the sixteenth century, notably inter-confessional exchanges, methods of territorial domination, avec Florence Alazard, "Pouvoirs symboliques des États : souveraineté, territoire, empire", dans F. Alazard, L. Gerbier et P.-A. Mellet (dir.), Empire et domination territoriale, actes de la journée d'étude de Tours (mai 2010), Astérion. Philosophie, histoire des idées, pensée politique, Lyon, , 2012, disinformation techniques during times of war, tensions stemming from diversities of opinion, constructions of religious identities and conversions, "remonstrances" printed in Europe, Biblical interpretations, Royal entries, regicides, and oaths.
Biography
After completing his studies in philosophy (Paris-Sorbonne) and history (Panthéon-Sorbonne), Mellet passed his "aggregation" in history and devoted his thesis to Protestant Monarchomachs under the direction of Gérald Chaix (l'université de Tours/CESR, 2004). His habilitation concerned the "remonstrances" printed in France between 1550 and 1600 and was completed under the direction of Denis Crouzet (Paris-Sorbonne, 2017). Mellet was awarded several research grants, allowing him to study in Geneva (BGE/IHR), Brussels (Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique), Wolfenbüttel (Bibliotheca Augusta), Chicago (Newberry Library) and Madison (Institute for Research in the Humanities).
Research
Mellet focuses on the history of Protestant reforms and the history of political ideas, notably perceptions of authorities during the Modern era (end of 15th c. to beginning of 16th c.) and the varying degrees of resistance or acceptance that they were met with. He is also interested in the history of books and the history of European wars in France, Switzerland, Germany, Savoy, the Netherlands, and England.
Around these themes, he has published ten books, organized some 30 academic trips and symposiums and given over 80 papers and lectures in Europe and the United States. He has contributed to a number of publications on modern European history and taken part in several scientific popularization projects for the general public (television and radio segments, public lectures, etc.). He regularly contributes to a number of French reviews (RHMC, BSHPF, RHR, CRMH, etc.) and international reviews (Bibliothèque d'Humanisme et Renaissance, Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte, Church History and Religious Culture, Sixteenth Century Journal). At the CESR, he co-directed two collections with the publishers Champion (Savoir de Mantice) and Garnier (Travaux du CESR). He has published the majority of his works with Droz (Geneva).