Eugène Auguste Albert de Rochas d'Aiglun (20 May 1837 – 2 September 1914) was a French parapsychologist, historian, translator, writer,

military engineer Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics ...

and administrator.

Biography

Life and career

Rochas was born in Saint Firmin in the department of

Hautes-Alpes Hautes-Alpes (; ; ) is a Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region of Southeastern France. It is located in the heart of the French Alps, after which it is named. Hautes-Alpes had a population ...

, the son of Marie Joseph Eugène de Rochas d'Aiglun, a judge at the court in

Briançon Briançon (, ) is the sole Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Hautes-Alpes Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Regions of France, region in Southeastern France. It is the highest city in France at an a ...

, and of Félicité Camille Jayet. He studied literature and mathematics at the Lycée de

Grenoble Grenoble ( ; ; or ; or ) is the Prefectures in France, prefecture and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of the Isère Departments of France, department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region ...

, then, in 1857, entered the

École Polytechnique (, ; also known as Polytechnique or l'X ) is a ''grande école'' located in Palaiseau, France. It specializes in science and engineering and is a founding member of the Polytechnic Institute of Paris. The school was founded in 1794 by mat ...

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

, intending to follow a military career. In 1861, he was commissioned as a

Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in the

Military Engineers Military engineering is loosely defined as the art, science, and practice of designing and building military works and maintaining lines of military transport and military communications. Military engineers are also responsible for logistics be ...

("Le Génie militaire") and distinguished himself as a soldier, engineer and administrator. He rose to the rank of

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

commander in 1880 and was made chief of engineers in 1887. He retired from the military in 1888 as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He had also been inspector of studies and director at the École Polytechnique but had to resign due to his involvement in paranormal research activities. Rochas was made a Chevalier (Knight) in the

Legion d'Honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

in 1875 and an officer in 1889.

Scientific writing

As a scholar, he made significant contributions to the study of military engineering history, producing, for example, a French translation of an 11th-century Alexandrian treatise on fortification and machines of war called ''Veterum Mathematicorum Opera'' (1693), and publishing the correspondence of the distinguished 17th century military engineer, Vauban. He also wrote about ancient technology, exploring subjects as diverse as hydraulic organs, water clocks, ancient surveying instruments, temple machinery, Greek artillery, and ancient railways. He was well respected as a researcher and won a medal from the "Société des Études Grecques" for his translations of Greek texts.

Paranormal research

Rochas is now best known for his extensive parapsychological research and writing, in which he attempted to explore a scientific basis for occult phenomena. His first book on the subject, ''Les Forces non définies'' ("Undefined Forces", 1887), was followed by numerous books and articles over the course of nearly thirty years, on subjects such as

hypnotism Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention (the selective attention/selective inattention hypothesis, SASI), reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.In 2015, the American Psychological ...

telekinesis Telekinesis () (alternatively called psychokinesis) is a purported psychic ability allowing an individual to influence a physical system without physical interaction. Experiments to prove the existence of telekinesis have historically been cri ...

, "

magnetic Magnetism is the class of physical attributes that occur through a magnetic field, which allows objects to attract or repel each other. Because both electric currents and magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, m ...

emanations"

reincarnation Reincarnation, also known as rebirth or transmigration, is the Philosophy, philosophical or Religion, religious concept that the non-physical essence of a living being begins a new lifespan (disambiguation), lifespan in a different physical ...

spirit photography Spirit(s) commonly refers to: * Liquor, a distilled alcoholic drink * Spirit (animating force), the non-corporeal essence of living things * Spirit (supernatural entity), an incorporeal or immaterial being Spirit(s) may also refer to: Liquid ...

, etc. Rochas was part of the committee that investigated the famous Italian

medium Medium may refer to: Aircraft *Medium bomber, a class of warplane * Tecma Medium, a French hang glider design Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''The Medium'' (1921 film), a German silent film * ''The Medium'' (1951 film), a film vers ...

, Eusapia Palladino, detailed in his book, ''L'extériorisation de la motricité'' (1896). He carried out research into hypnosis, and documented the phenomenon of "externalisation of sensibility" whereby hypnotised subjects acquire a physical sensitivity to stimuli at a distance; for example, the subject can be made to feel pain if a certain spot is pinched or pricked away from the body and can even be made to feel the sensations of the hypnotist. He investigated other "

" phenomena such as the transference of disease from one organism to another,See, for example,

Augusta, Lady Gregory Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory (; 15 March 1852 – 22 May 1932) was an Anglo-Irish people, Anglo-Irish dramatist, Folklore, folklorist and theatre manager. With William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn, she co-founded the Irish Literary Theatre a ...

's ''Visions and Beliefs in the West of Ireland'' p. 300 ff.

past life regression Past life regression (PLR), Past life therapy (PLT), regression or memory regression is a method that uses hypnosis to recover what practitioners believe are Past life memory, memories of past lives or reincarnation, incarnations.Carl Reichenbach Karl Ludwig Freiherr von Reichenbach (; February 12, 1788January 19, 1869), known as Carl Reichenbach, was a German chemist, geologist, metallurgist, naturalist, industrialist and philosopher, and a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences. He ...

and his theory of

odic force Odic force (also called Od , Odyle, Önd, Odes, Odylic, Odyllic, or Odems) was a hypothetical vital energy or life force believed by some in the mid-19th century. The name was coined by Baron Carl von Reichenbach in 1845 in reference to the G ...

References

Albert de Rochas Papers
(American Philosophical Society)

Bibliography

Parapsychology books

*
La Science des philosophes et l'art des thaumaturges dans l'antiquité
' ("The science of philosophers and the art of miracle workers in ancient times"), G. Masson, Paris, 1882. *
Les Forces non définies, recherches historiques et expérimentales
' ("Undefined forces, historical and experimental investigations"), G. Masson, Paris, 1887. *''Le Fluide des magnétiseurs, précis des expériences du Baron de Reichenbach sur ses propriétés physiques et physiologiques, classées et annotées par le lieutenant-colonel de Rochas d'Aiglun'' ("The fluid of the magnetizers, summary of the experiences of Baron Reichenbach concerning its physical and physiological properties etc.") of, G. Carré, Paris, 1891 (N.B. a "magnetizer" was a practitioner of animal magnetism). *
Les États profonds de l'hypnose
' ("States of deep hypnosis"), Chamuel, Paris, 1892. *''L'Envoûtement, documents historiques et expérimentaux'' ("Bewitchment, historical and experimental documents"), Chamuel, Paris, 1893. *
Les États superficiels de l'hypnose
' ("States of light hypnosis"), Chamuel, Paris, 1893. *
L'Extériorisation de la sensibilité, étude expérimentale et historique
' ("The exteriorisation of sensibility, an experimental and historical study"), Bibliothèque Chacornac, Paris, 1895. *
L'extériorisation de la motricité, recueil d'expériences et d'observations
' ("The exteriorisation of motive power, a collection of experiences and observations") Chamuel éditeur, Paris, 1896 *''La Lévitation'', P.-G. Leymarie, Paris, 1897. *
Les Sentiments, la musique et le geste
' ("Emotions, music and gesture"), Grenoble Lib. Dauphinoise, 1900. *''Les Frontières de la science'' ("Frontiers of Science"), Librairie des sciences psychologiques, Paris, 2 volumes, 1902-1904. *''L'Extériorisation de la motricité'' ("The externalisation of motive power"), Bibliothèque Chacornac, Paris, 1906. *''Les Vies successives, documents pour l'étude de cette question'' ("Successive lives, documents for the study of this question"), Bibliothèque Chacornac, Paris, 1911. *''La Suspension de la vie'', Dorbon aîné, Paris, 1913.

Scientific books

*''Les Vallées vaudoises, étude de topographie et d'histoire militaires'', Tanera, Paris, 1880. *
Principes de la fortification antique. Précis des connaissances techniques nécessaires aux archéologues pour explorer les ruines des anciennes forteresse
', Tanera, Paris, 1881. *''La Science dans l'antiquité. Les Origines de la science et ses premières applications'', G. Masson, Paris, 1884 *''Le Livre de demain'', Raoul Marchand, Blois, 1884 (printed on 46 different kinds of paper). *''Vauban, sa famille et ses écrits, ses oisivetés et sa correspondance : analyse et extraits'', Berger-Levrault, Paris, 2 volumes, 1910

Scientific articles

The following articles are available to read online. See index of volumes a
Le Conservatoire numérique des Arts & Métiers
* ''Les Pneumatiques de Héron d'Alexandrie''

La Nature ''La Nature'' (English: ''Nature'') was a French language magazine aimed at the popularization of science established in 1873 by French scientist and adventurer Gaston Tissandier. The magazine also received an enormous amount of time, effort, ...

, no. 421, 25 June 1881. * ''Les trépieds merveilleux d'Homère'',

, no. 444, 3 Dec 1881. * ''Les bénitiers à tirelire et à tourniquet dans les temples de l'ancienne Égypte'' -

- no. 460 - 23 Mar 1882. * ''Comment nous sont parvenus les ouvrages scientifiques de l'antiquité'' -

- no. 463 - 15 April 1882. * ''Les théâtres de marionnettes chez les Grecs'' -

- no. 464 - 22 Apr 1882. * ''Les orgues hydrauliques'' -

- no. 481 - 19 Aug 1882 * ''Le transport des grandes masses. Transport du piédestal de la statue de Pierre le Grand à Saint-Pétersbourg'' -

- no. 491 - 28 Oct 1882. * ''L'automate joueur d'échecs'' -

- no. 494 - 18 Nov 1882. * ''Le décapité buvant'' -

- no. 495 - 25 Nov 1882. * ''La catoptrique des Grecs'' -

- no. 498 - 16 Dec 1882 * ''Le joueur d'échecs de Robert Hondin'' -

- no. 503 - 20 Jan 1883 * ''Les origines de l'industrie'' -

- no. 505 - 3 Feb 1883 * ''Mesureur de liquides, système Héron'' -

- no. 507 - 17 Feb 1883 * ''Les origines de la machine à vapeur'' -

- no. 509 - 3 Mar 1883 * ''Les instruments de géodésie dans l'antiquité'' -

- no. 511 - 17 Mar 1883 * ''La tête qui parle et s'évanouit en fumée'' -

- no. 513 - 31 Mar 1883 * ''La production du feu'' -

- no. 520 - 19 May 1883 * ''La pompe à incendie dans l'antiquité'' -

- no. 522 - 2 June 1883 * ''L'artillerie des Grecs'' -

- no. 523 - 9 Jun 1883 * ''La science dans l'antiquité. Un jouet grec. La machine pneumatique et la fontaine de compression. Les hodomètres. Les théâtres à pivot de Curion. Les lampes perpétuelles. Les vases merveilleux'' -

- no. 525 - 23 June 1883 * ''La science dans l'antiquité : Les hodomètres'' -

- no. 526 - 30 June 1883 * ''La machinerie des temples antiques'' -

- no. 528 - 14 July 1883 * ''Les miroirs ardents'' - Revue scientifique- 11 Aug 1883 * ''La trempe du bronze'' - Revue scientifique- 22 Sep 1883 * ''Le transport des grandes masses : transport d'un clocher'' -

- no. 540 - 6 Oct 1883 * ''Les savants de la Renaissance'' -

- no. 551 - 22 Dec 1883 * ''Les machines d'assaut'' -

- no. 553 - 5 Jan 1884 * ''Les savants de la Renaissance. Le Père Schott'' -

- no. 580 - 12 July 1884 * ''L'art industriel à Blois : fabrication de la faïence'' -

- no. 585 - 14 Aug 1884 * ''Les horloges hydrauliques de l'antiquité'' -

- no. 587 - 30 Aug 1884 * ''Les boulettes contre la faim et les conserves alimentaires chez les Grecs'' -

- no. 605 - 3 Jan 1885 * '' Crapaud trouvé vivant dans une pierre'' -

- no. 606 - 10 Jan 1885 * ''La suspension de la vie'' -

- no. 607 - 17 Jan 1885 * ''L'audition colorée'' -

- no. 620 - 18 Apr 1885 * ''Le rayon vert et l'équerre chromatique'' -

- no. 634 - 25 July 1885 * ''L'audition colorée'' -

- no. 644 - 3 Oct 1885 * ''Le truc des anciens oracles'' -

- no. 651 - 21 Nov 1885 * ''Le timbre et la couleur'' -

- no. 658 - 9 Jan 1886 * ''L'origine du langage'' -

- no. 668 - 20 Mar 1886 * ''Le contraste des couleurs'' -

- no. 668 - 27 Mar 1886 * ''L'or alchimique'' -

- no. 674 - 1 May 1886 * ''L'expression des sentiments'' -

- no. 694 - 18 Sep 1886 * ''Une construction pélasgique contemporaine'' -

- no. 800 - 29 Sep 1886 * ''Cadran Lunaire'' -

- no. 830 - 17 Apr 1889 * ''Les cosaques de l'Oural'' -

- no. 874 - 1 Mar 1890 * ''L'alpinisme d'hiver et les raquettes de neige'' -

- no. 884 - 10 May 1890 * ''Les origines de la machine à vapeur et de l'utilisation mécanique de la chaleur solaire'' -

- no. 917 - 27 Dec 1890 * ''Les races de pigeons voyageurs'' -

- no. 922 - 31 Jan 1891 * ''La notation des couleurs'' -

- no. 925 - 21 Feb 1891 * ''Le réseau de colombiers militaires en Europe'' -

- no.941 - 13 June 1891 * ''L'origine des grandes bibliothèques scientifiques de Paris'' -

- no. 976 - 13 feb 1892 * ''La soupe au blé de Vauban'' -

- no. 982 - 26 Mar 1892 * ''Les coquilles de pèlerin'' -

- no. 1028 - 11 Feb 1893 * ''Charlet et l'enseignement du dessin aux ingénieurs'' -

- no. 1050 - 15 July 1893 * ''Les refuges souterrains de la gaule'' -

- no. 1053 - 5 Aug 1893 * ''Les uniformes de l'école polytechnique'' -

- no. 1078 - 27 Jan 1894 * ''Centenaire de l'école polytechnique'' -

- no. 1093 - 12 May 1894 * ''Le sens des couleurs'' -

- no. 1145 - 11 May 1895 * ''Les pigeons voyageurs et la mer'' -

- no. 1150 - 15 June 1895 * ''La vitesse des pigeons voyageurs'' -

- no. 1153 - 6 July 1895 * ''Le vieux-neuf, la vapeur et la chaleur solaire'' -

- no. 1175 - 2 Dec 1895 * ''Le rire du chien'' -

- no. 1185 - 22 Feb 1896 * ''Le colonel Langlois et les panoramas'' -

- no. 1202 - 13 June 1896 * ''Le Vieux Neuf. Les cuirassés en étoffe'' -

- no. 1234 - 12 June 1897 * ''La mimique enseignée par l'hypnotisme'' -

- no. 1373 - 14 Sep 1899 * ''La musique et le geste'' -

- no. 1374 - 23 Sep 1899 * ''Les muscles expressifs de la face'' -

- no. 1391 - 20 Jan 1900 * ''Vauban'' - Revue scientifique- 1st, Sep 1900 * ''Une lettre inédite de Vauban'' -

- no. 1464 - 15 June 1901 * ''La médaille française'' -

- no. 1431 - 16 Mar 1901 * ''Les enseignes'' -

- no. 1519 - 3 July 1901 * ''Les rainures des chemins antiques'' -

- no. 1683 - 26 Aug 1905 The articles in these papers are published under the names of A. de Rochas or M. D'Aiglun Lt-Colonel de Rochas.

External links

Albert de Rochas
(Bibliothèque Dauphinoise) {{DEFAULTSORT:Rochas, Albert De French parapsychologists French writers on paranormal topics French military engineers French military writers French antiquarians École Polytechnique alumni People from Hautes-Alpes 1837 births 1914 deaths French male non-fiction writers