Antoine-Élisabeth-Cléophas Dareste de la Chavanne (28 October 18206 August 1882) was a French historian born in Paris, of an old Lyon family.
Educated at the École des Chartes in Paris, he became professor in the faculty of letters at Grenoble in 1844, and in 1849 at Lyon, where he remained nearly thirty years. He died at Lucenay-lès-Aix (Nièvre département).
His works comprise:
Before the publication of Lavisse's great work, Dareste's general history of France was the best of its kind; it surpassed in accuracy the work of Henri Martin, especially in the ancient periods, just as Martin's in its turn was an improvement upon that of Sismondi.