In 1663, Jean-Baptiste Colbert founded the institution that became the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. It first served Louis XIV's programme of royal inscriptions, medals and learned celebration. It later developed into a major scholarly academy for history and philology.

The academy shows how scholarship, monarchy and literary polish were joined in the age of Louis XIV. Its work encouraged learned classicism, antiquarian method and the ceremonial language of royal glory.