Cyrano de Bergerac, a fictional character in the French play Le Misanthrope, by Molière. The play, subtitled "The Indiscreet and Ingenious Diary of a Man of Letters," was published in 1662 and is one of the most successful plays in the history of French theatre. The character of Cyrano de Bergerac was created by Edmond Rostand, who based his story on a highly fictionalized biography by Gabriel de Foigny. Although no real-life person named Cyrano de Bergerac ever existed, there is substantial evidence that this was a composite character based on many real persons
Read more
The name Cyrano de Bergerac probably derives from the names of two real people: Cyrano de Bergerac (the son of François de Bergerac; his brother was known as Léonard de Bergerac) and François Velle (or Vellefroy). The name Cyrano de Bergerac also appears to derive from the name De Bergeyck (a little different spelling). All these persons have been associated with the word "Bergerac," but this is uncertain.