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Why did Michel de Montaigne retire from public life in 1571?

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Engraved portrait of Michel de Montaigne wearing a ruffled collar and ornate Renaissance clothing, facing forward with a neutral expression. — Michel de Montaigne French writer Michel de Montaigne.

Michel de Montaigne retired from public life in 1571 to dedicate his time to reading, meditating, and writing.1

Having previously served in the magistrature and the Parliament of Bordeaux, Montaigne signaled his departure from public service by selling his parliamentary seat in 1570. After overseeing the posthumous publication of works by his close friend, Étienne de la Boétie, he retreated to his château in 1571. There, he established a library in the castle’s tower, which served as his refuge for composing his Essays—a series of personal "probings and testings" of his mind.1