Charles Baudelaire

Charles Baudelaire was born to François Baudelaire and Caroline Defayis. His father, a high-ranking church official, was 63 at the time of his birth, and his mother was 26.

François Baudelaire died, and Charles's mother, Caroline, remarried to Lieutenant Colonel Jacques Aupick, an army officer. This event profoundly affected Baudelaire's relationship with his mother.

Baudelaire begins his education at the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris, where he excels in Latin and rhetoric but struggles with discipline and conformity.

Baudelaire graduates from the Lycée Louis-le-Grand but decides not to pursue a traditional career path. He begins to frequent literary circles and develop his poetic style.

Concerned about his bohemian lifestyle, Baudelaire's stepfather sends him on a voyage to India. Baudelaire leaves France but only reaches Mauritius and Reunion before returning to Paris.

Baudelaire publishes his first poem, 'Les Balcon,' in the literary magazine 'La Revue des Deux Mondes.' This marks the beginning of his literary career and his growing reputation as a poet.

Baudelaire publishes 'La Fanfarlo,' a novella that explores themes of love, passion, and the artist's struggle. This work showcases his early narrative style and philosophical insights.

Baudelaire publishes 'Les Fleurs du Mal,' his most famous collection of poetry. The book is initially met with controversy and censorship but later becomes a seminal work in French literature.

Baudelaire begins writing art and literary criticism for the magazine 'Le Messager de l'Europe.' His critical essays are influential and help shape the aesthetic debates of the time.

Baudelaire travels to Belgium, where he gives lectures and continues to write. However, his health begins to decline, and he experiences financial difficulties.

Charles Baudelaire dies in Paris, France, after suffering a series of strokes. He is buried in the Montparnasse Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential poets of the 19th century.