Iris de Rode Wikipedia, Biography, Age, Husband, Birthplace, Books, Nationality, Net Worth, Education, Family

admin

Dr. Iris de Rode is a Dutch historian who specializes in the history of the French-American alliance during the American Revolution. She is particularly noted for her work on the military, intellectual, and political cooperation between France and the United States in the late 18th century. Dr. de Rode earned her Ph.D. from the University of Paris VIII in 2019 and has taught American and Transatlantic history at Sciences Po in Paris. She currently serves as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia.

Her career was significantly shaped by a major archival discovery she made at the Château de Chastellux in Burgundy, France. While researching there, she uncovered thousands of previously unpublished private papers belonging to the Marquis de Chastellux, a French major general who served under Rochambeau during the American Revolution. These documents provided new insights into the “soldier-philosopher” whose relationship with George Washington and other Founding Fathers played a crucial role in the alliance. This research formed the basis of her doctoral dissertation and her subsequent biography, François-Jean de Chastellux: Un soldat-philosophe dans le monde atlantique à l’époque des Lumières (2022), which was awarded the prestigious Prix Guizot by the Académie Française.

In addition to her writing, Dr. de Rode is deeply involved in public history and education. She has received numerous fellowships from institutions such as Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the American Philosophical Society. She actively collaborates with organizations like the National Park Service and the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association to promote historical understanding. Her work has also extended to media, including appearances in Ken Burns’s documentary The American Revolution, and she is currently working on a new book titled Military Enlightenment on the Ground.

Early Life and Background

Nationality and Ethnicity

Iris de Rode was born and raised in the Netherlands. She is of Dutch nationality and ethnicity. Growing up in a country with a rich history of international trade and diplomacy, she developed an early interest in history and cross-cultural relations. Her upbringing was multilingual and multicultural, as she spent significant time in both the Netherlands and France, fostering a deep fluency in the languages and cultures of both nations—a skill set that would later prove indispensable for her archival research.

Education and Qualifications

Dr. de Rode’s academic journey is defined by excellence across top European institutions. She began her higher education at the University of Amsterdam, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in History.

To pursue her doctoral studies, she moved to Paris, enrolling at the University of Paris VIII (Vincennes-Saint-Denis). It was here that she embarked on her defining research project. In November 2019, she successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation titled François-Jean de Chastellux (1734-1788), un soldat-philosophe dans le monde atlantique à l’époque des Lumières.

The Chastellux Discovery

Unearthing Lost History

The turning point in Dr. de Rode’s career occurred during her doctoral research when she gained access to the private archives of the Château de Chastellux in Burgundy, France. The château, still owned by the Chastellux family, held a treasure trove of documents that had remained largely untouched for over two centuries.

While exploring the family’s attic and archives, Dr. de Rode discovered approximately 6,000 pages of unpublished private papers belonging to the Marquis de Chastellux. These documents included:

Personal letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin.
Military journals and philosophical essays.
Detailed reports on the American climate, geography, and society.

Historical Significance

This discovery was monumental for historians of the American Revolution. Previous scholarship on the French-American alliance had often focused on well-known figures like Lafayette and Rochambeau, or on the financial and naval support France provided. Dr. de Rode’s findings revealed that the alliance was also deeply intellectual. The Marquis de Chastellux was not just a soldier; he was a “soldier-philosopher” who acted as a liaison between the French and American commands, bonding with George Washington over shared Enlightenment ideals.

Professional Career

Academic Roles

Since 2013, Dr. de Rode has been dedicated to educating the next generation of historians. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Sciences Po Paris, one of France’s most prestigious universities for political science and international studies. There, she taught courses on American history, Transatlantic relations, and international diplomatic history.

More recently, she transitioned to the United States to further her research. She is currently the Gibson Postdoctoral Fellow at the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia. In this role, she continues to explore the intersections of democracy, military history, and 18th-century philosophy.

Fellowships and Grants

Dr. de Rode’s work has been supported by an impressive array of over 20 fellowships and grants from leading historical institutions. These include:

George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Where she researched the personal friendship between Washington and Chastellux.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello: Focusing on the intellectual exchanges between Jefferson and French officers.
The American Philosophical Society: Supporting her work on the “Military Enlightenment.”
The Society of the Cincinnati: Acknowledging her contribution to preserving the history of the Revolutionary War officers.
The Richard Lounsbery Foundation: Which supported the research leading to her book.

Public History and Media

Beyond academia, Dr. de Rode is a passionate public historian. She actively collaborates with the National Park Service and the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association to create educational programs and digital resources. She is also working on a documentary film and an audio-guide app that retraces the steps of the French expeditionary force in America. Her expertise has led to on-screen commentary roles, most notably in Ken Burns’s comprehensive documentary series The American Revolution.

Literary Works and Bibliography

François-Jean de Chastellux: Un soldat-philosophe (2022)

Her debut biography, François-Jean de Chastellux: Un soldat-philosophe dans le monde atlantique à l’époque des Lumières, was published by Éditions Honoré Champion. This book is the definitive biography of the Marquis de Chastellux, utilizing the thousands of documents she discovered. It paints a vivid portrait of a man who was as comfortable discussing philosophy with academicians as he was commanding troops on the battlefield.

Awards: The book received the prestigious Prix Guizot from the Académie Française in 2023. This award is given annually to the best work of history, marking Dr. de Rode as a scholar of the highest caliber.

Military Enlightenment on the Ground (Upcoming)

Dr. de Rode is currently finalizing a new book in English, tentatively titled Military Enlightenment on the Ground. Expected to be published by the University of Virginia Press, this work aims to bring her findings to a broader American audience. It will explore how the practical application of Enlightenment philosophy by French and American officers influenced the conduct and outcome of the Revolutionary War.

Personal Life

Relationships and Family

Dr. Iris de Rode maintains a relatively private personal life, though she occasionally shares details about her relocation and partnership.

Partner: She is in a relationship with André Nakazawa. In 2023, the couple moved together from Paris to Washington, D.C., to be closer to the archives and historical sites that are central to Dr. de Rode’s work.
Noble Connections: While she collaborates with figures of European nobility, such as Prince Charles-Henri de Lobkowicz for historical commemorations and events (specifically related to the America 2026 initiative), there is no public record of a marital relationship between them.
Children: There is no publicly disclosed information regarding children.

Residence

Dr. de Rode currently resides in the Washington, D.C. area. This location allows her easy access to the Library of Congress, the Anderson House (Society of the Cincinnati), and other key research centers on the East Coast.

Net Worth and Earnings

As an academic and historian, Dr. Iris de Rode’s income is primarily derived from her university salaries, fellowship stipends, and book royalties. While she has received significant grant funding—such as stipends ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for various short-term fellowships—these funds are typically earmarked for research expenses, travel, and archival access rather than personal wealth accumulation. Consequently, her personal net worth is not public information.

Conclusion

Dr. Iris de Rode represents the modern face of historical inquiry—diligent, multilingual, and deeply committed to uncovering the truth through archival evidence. Her discovery of the Chastellux papers has provided a missing link in the narrative of the American Revolution, showing that the bond between France and the United States was forged in shared intellect as much as in shared blood. As she continues her work at the University of Virginia and prepares her English-language publications, Dr. de Rode is set to remain a vital figure in the field of Transatlantic history for years to come.

FAQs

Who is Iris de Rode?

Iris de Rode is a Dutch historian specializing in the French-American alliance during the American Revolution. She is known for discovering the private papers of the Marquis de Chastellux.

What major discovery did Iris de Rode make?

She discovered over 4,000 unpublished pages of private papers belonging to the Marquis de Chastellux in the attic of his family’s château in Burgundy, France.

What is Iris de Rode’s nationality?

She is Dutch. She was born and raised in the Netherlands.

Is Iris de Rode married to a Prince?

No, there is no public record of her being married to a prince. She is in a relationship with André Nakazawa, with whom she moved to Washington, D.C.

What is the “Prix Guizot” that she won?

The Prix Guizot is a prestigious award given by the Académie Française. Dr. de Rode won it in 2023 for her biography of the Marquis de Chastellux, recognizing it as the best history book of the year.