Nicolas Bergier

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Nicolas Bergier, Avocat au Siège Présidial de Rheims, lived in 17th-century Rheims and became interested in Roman roads there. Mentioning by chance his interest in the funding of Roman roads to Conde du Lis, advisor to Louis XIII, he found himself suddenly commanded by the king to undertake a study of all Roman roads. Five years later he published his Histoire des Grands Chemins de l'Empire Romain, a two-volume work of over 1000 pages. There were many subsequent editions. This first scholarly study of Roman roads included engravings of the Tabula Peutingeriana. Edward Gibbon consulted Bergier's work while researching his Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

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Portrait
There is an article on Nicolas Bergier in 'A Universal Biography...' by John Platts (1826), which reads:

NICHOLAS BERGIER, a man of learning, was born at Rheims on March 1, 1557, and brought up at the university of that city, of which he became a professor. Embracing the profession of law he was made syndic of Rheims, and was frequently deputed to Paris on public affairs. At that metropolis he contracted an intimate friendship with Pciresc and du Puy, who engaged him to execute a work he had projected on the high roads of the empire. M. de Bellievre took Bergicr to his house, and procured him a pension, with the brevet of historiographer; He died in 162.3. Bergier left in MS. a history of Rheims, which was published by his son in 1635, 4to. His other works are — 1. Le point du Jour, ou traite du commencement des Jours et de 1'endroit ou il est etabli sur la terre, 1629, 12mo. 2. Le Bouquet Royale, 8vo. 3. Police Generate de la France. 4. Latin and French poems.