Malherbe, François de (1555-1628)

French poet and grammarian. He became court poet in about 1605 under Henry IV, received a pension from his widow Marie de' Medici, and was patronized by Louis XIII. He advocated reform of language and versification, criticizing the innovations of the Pléiade poets, and established the 12-syllable alexandrine as the standard form of French verse.

Malherbe was born in Caen. He accompanied Henry of Angoulême, son of Henry II, when he went to Provence as governor in 1579 and remained attached to his household until the prince's death in 1585, after which he was patronized by Henry IV.