Learn How to Pronounce Talleyrand | YouPronounce.it
How to Pronounce Talleyrand
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Meaning and Context
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, the preeminent French diplomat of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, remains a towering and enigmatic figure in European history. Serving in critical roles from the Ancien Régime through the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the Bourbon Restoration, Talleyrand was the quintessential political survivor, renowned for his diplomatic cunning and political adaptability. His most enduring legacy was his pivotal role at the Congress of Vienna in 1815, where his skillful negotiations helped to redraw the map of post-Napoleonic Europe and establish a balance of power that fostered relative peace for decades. Often characterized by the famous maxim attributed to him, "treason is a matter of dates," Talleyrand's career was defined by a pragmatic, sometimes controversial, commitment to the stability and interests of France above any single ruler or regime, making him a master of realpolitik long before the term was coined.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
The standard and correct spelling is Talleyrand, which is the abbreviated form of his full name, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord. Common misspellings and typographical errors often arise from phonetic guesses or confusion with similar-sounding words. Frequent variants include "Tallyrand" (dropping one 'e'), "Talleyran" (dropping the 'd'), and "Tallyerand" (incorrect vowel placement). Another error is the inclusion of an accent, as in "Talléyrand," which is not standard. When writing his full title, one may encounter errors in the hyphenation or the noble particle, such as "de Talleyrand Perigord" without the hyphen or "Talleyrand de Périgord" with the particle misplaced. It is also worth noting that in some older English texts, the anglicized spelling "Talleyrand" is consistently used.
Example Sentences
Despite his reputation for shifting allegiances, Talleyrand's deft diplomacy at the Congress of Vienna was instrumental in securing favorable borders for a defeated France.
Historians continue to debate whether Talleyrand was an unprincipled opportunist or a visionary statesman who consistently placed the long-term welfare of his nation above transient political loyalties.
The château de Valençay, a lavish estate bestowed upon him by Napoleon, served not only as a home but also as a gilded prison for the Spanish royal family during the Peninsular War, a testament to Talleyrand's complex role in imperial affairs.
To describe a politician as a "modern Talleyrand" is to imply a masterful, if morally flexible, capacity for negotiation and survival.
His memoirs, published posthumously, offer a fascinating, though self-serving, perspective on decades of European upheaval.
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