Editing Arthur Rimbaud (section)

=== Family and childhood (1854–1861) ===
Arthur Rimbaud was born in the provincial town of Charleville (now part of [[Charleville-Mézières]]) in the [[Ardennes (département)|Ardennes]] [[departments of France|department]] in northeastern France. He was the second child of [[Frédéric Rimbaud]] (7 October 1814 – 16 November 1878){{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=11 & 35}} and [[Vitalie Rimbaud|Marie Catherine Vitalie Rimbaud]] (née [[O'Keeffe|Cuif]]; 10 March 1825 – 16 November 1907).{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=18 & 1193}}

Rimbaud's father, a [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundian]] of [[Provence|Provençal]] heritage, was an infantry captain who had risen from the ranks; he had spent much of his army career abroad.{{sfn|Starkie|1973|pp=25–26}} He participated in the [[French Algeria#Conquest of the Algerian territories under the July Monarchy (1830–1848)|conquest of Algeria]] from 1844 to 1850, and in 1854 was awarded the [[Légion d'honneur|Legion of Honor]]{{sfn|Starkie|1973|pp=25–26}} "by Imperial decree".{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=27–28}} Captain Rimbaud was described as "good-tempered, easy-going and generous,"{{sfn|Starkie|1973|p=31}} with the long moustache and goatee of a [[Chasseur]] officer.{{sfn|Robb|2000|p=7}}

In October 1852, Captain Rimbaud, then aged 38, was transferred to [[Charleville-Mézières|Mézières]] where he met Vitalie Cuif, 11 years his junior, while on a Sunday stroll.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=16–18 & 1193}} She came from a "solidly established {{lang|fr|Ardennais}} family",{{sfn|Starkie|1973|pp=27–28}} but one with its share of [[bohemianism|bohemians]]; two of her brothers were alcoholics.{{sfn|Starkie|1973|pp=27–28}} Her personality was the "exact opposite" of Captain Rimbaud's; she was reportedly narrowminded, "stingy and ... completely lacking in a sense of humour".{{sfn|Starkie|1973|p=31}} When Charles Houin, an early biographer, interviewed her, he found her "withdrawn, stubborn and taciturn".{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|p=15|ps=: "{{lang|fr|renfermée, têtue et taciturne}}".}} Arthur Rimbaud's private name for her was "Mouth of Darkness" ({{lang|fr|bouche d'ombre}}).{{sfnm|Nicholl|1999|1p=94|Robb|2000|2p=50|ps=: Refers to [[Victor Hugo]]'s poem "{{lang|fr|Ce que dit la bouche d'ombre|}}", from ''Contemplations'', 1856.}}

On 8 February 1853, Captain Rimbaud and Vitalie Cuif married; their first-born, Jean Nicolas Frédéric ("Frédéric"), arrived nine months later on 2 November.{{sfnm|Lefrère|2001|1pp=27–28|Starkie|1973|2p=30}} The next year, on 20 October 1854, Jean Nicolas Arthur ("Arthur") was born.{{sfnm|Lefrère|2001|1pp=27–28 |Starkie|1973|2p=30}} Three more children followed: Victorine-Pauline-Vitalie on 4 June 1857 (who died a few weeks later), [[Vitalie Rimbaud (1858-1875)|Jeanne-Rosalie-Vitalie]] ("Vitalie") on 15 June 1858 and, finally, [[Isabelle Rimbaud|Frédérique Marie Isabelle]] ("Isabelle") on 1 June 1860.{{sfnm|Lefrère|2001|1pp=31–32|Starkie|1973|2p=30}}

Though the marriage lasted seven years, Captain Rimbaud lived continuously in the matrimonial home for less than three months, from February to May 1853.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=27–29}} The rest of the time his military postings—including active service in the [[Crimean War]] and the [[Second Italian War of Independence|Sardinian Campaign]] (with medals earned in both){{sfn|Lefrère|2001|p=31}}—meant he returned home to Charleville only when on leave.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=27–29}} He was not at home for his children's births, nor their baptisms.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|pp=27–29}} Isabelle's birth in 1860 must have been the last straw, as after this Captain Rimbaud stopped returning home on leave altogether.{{sfn|Robb|2000|p=12}} Though they never divorced, the separation was complete; thereafter Mme Rimbaud let herself be known as "widow Rimbaud"{{sfn|Robb|2000|p=12}} and Captain Rimbaud would describe himself as a widower.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|p=35}} Neither the captain nor his children showed the slightest interest in re-establishing contact.{{sfn|Lefrère|2001|p=35}}