The idea of a published journal with the purpose of "people know what is happening in the Republic of Letters" was first conceived by François Eudes de Mézeray in 1663. A publication titled "Journal littéraire général" was supposed to be published to fulfill that goal, but never was. Humanist scholar Denis de Sallo (under the pseudonym "Sieur de Hédouville") and printer Jean Cusson took Mazerai's idea, and obtained a royal privilege from King Louis XIV on 8 August 1664 to establish the "Journal des sçavans". The journal's first issue was published on 5 January 1665. It was aimed at people of letters, and had four main objectives: