SABATIER, PAUL (1858-1928), French historian, the younger brother of Louis Auguste Sabatier (q.v.), was born at Chabrillanoux, in the Cevennes, on Aug. 3, 1858. He studied at the Faculty of Theology in Paris, and in 1885 became vicar of St. Nicholas, Strasbourg, from which he was expelled on declining the German Government's offer of preferment which was condi tional on his becoming a German subject. He was then appointed pastor of St. Cierge, but being compelled by ill-health to give up his cure, he devoted himself to historical research. The appear ance of his Life of St. Francis, in 5893, made his name, and his reputation was enhanced by the publication of Collection detudes et de documents, in 1898. In this work were incorporated the texts of the Speculum Perfectionis seu Sancti Francisci Assisiensis legenda antiquissima, an early life of St. Francis written by his disciple, Brother Leo, in 1227, the Tractatus de Indulgentia For tiunculee, and the Actus B. Francisci et sociorum eius; but
Sabatier's criticism and interpretation of the documents were widely challenged. In 1902 Sabatier founded the International Society of Franciscan Studies, and soon after he organized at Assisi La Refezione Scolastica for feeding necessitous children, in support of which he delivered a brilliant lecture on Modernism in France at London (19°5). In 1914 he sent a striking letter to the president of the International Society of Franciscan Studies in reply to a resolution in favour of peace which had been passed by the council, in which he eloquently set forward the ideals of France in the World War. This was published in The Times, Jan. 22, 1915, and was later reprinted as a pamphlet. In 1919 Sabatier became professor of Protestant theology at Strasbourg, which post he held until his death in March 1928.