Louis XIV Letter Signed. ...

Description

Louis XIV Letter Signed. Four pages of a bifolium, 9 ¾ x 14 inches, Versailles; November 18, 1701. Letter in French addressed to Cardinal César d'Estrées regarding his role as ambassador in Italy during the War of Spanish Succession, of which the latter portion is written in cipher. Signed, "Louis" and countersigned by Colbert, Marquis de Torcy.

The letter reads, in part, "Lord Pisani spoke in the same way on behalf of his Masters, he strongly represented the deplorable state of the Subjects of the Republic, but I replied to him that it was up to her alone to save them from easily foreseeable misfortunes when she took the side of neutrality, that it was impossible to believe that two armies could long subsist in the same country without ruining it, that there was not much care to be expected from the Emperor's troops, that the experience of the past teaches us that it is the license of the Germans, that it was therefore in the interest of the Republic to employ effective means to have them leave, that as soon as she worked on it, she would not only receive any assistance she may desire from me for success, but also that with the Germans withdrawn, I would call back my troops whom I had only sent for Italy's defense."

By the fall of 1701, the majority of Europe had united against Louis XIV in his grandson's bid for the Spanish Crown during the War of Spanish Succession. The king had previously ordered Cardinal César d'Estrées to Venice in an attempt to convince the neutral Italian republic to join the French cause. At the same time, French troops had taken control of Spanish territories in northern Italy. In response, German Prince Eugene of Savoy marched troops to Italy, stopping in Venice, to which Louis refers in his letter.

The letter has been fully translated and a copy is included.

Condition: Creased along folds with light foxing. Bound to cover with ribbon along the left margin.

More Information: The full translation reads:

My cousin, I received your letter of the 29th of
last month with the copy of that which you
wrote to Marshal de Villeroy and the report
given to the Ambassador of Spain on behalf of
the Senate. Lord Pisani spoke in the same way
on behalf of his Masters, he strongly represented
the deplorable state of the Subjects of the Republic, but
I replied to him that it was up to her alone
to save them from easily foreseeable misfortunes
when she took the side of
neutrality, that it was impossible to believe that two
armies could long subsist in the same
country without ruining it, that there was not much
care to be expected from the Emperor's
troops, that the experience of the past teaches us
that it is the licence of the Germans, that it was therefore
in the interest of the Republic to employ effective

PAGE 2
means to have them leave, that as soon as she
worked on it, she would not only receive
any assistance she may desire from me for
success, but also that with the Germans
withdrawn, I would call back my troops whom I had only sent
for Italy's defence.
As these same reasons repeated several
times still have not persuaded the Venetians to
think of their own safety, it appears that we can only
expect the end of the campaign when the
Germans decide on it themselves. If they
spend winter in the country where they are, the State
of the Republic will long feel the
weakness that she witnessed in this situation,
the new troops she gathered could,
however, contribute to restoring peace in
her country

PAGE 3
Lord Pisani continues to ensure that she
will guard her main places with plenty
of care, that she takes all precautions
necessary against the Germans' antagonisms
either on Brescia or Bergamo. I have nothing
to ask of her but to look after her own
interests. It was to be hoped that she would have
known them better and that she would have followed them from the
beginning 460 172 129 137 127 141 172 191
151 172 191 127 132 192 147 137 129 137 191 294
172 191 127 191 147 52 172 137 194 129 137 121
172 191 129 132 132 282 21 12 123 172 121 237
172 191 129 462 380
I do not prescribe anything with regard to your departure, having
left you complete freedom to use it as
you see fit for the sake of my
service, and I see it as a new mark

LOUIS XIV PAGE 4
of your zeal the time you took to
leave, believing that your stay in Venice was necessary,
as the campaign was not yet finished. In this regard,
I pray to God that he has you, My Cousin, in his
Holy and worthy guard. Written in Versailles on the 18th
day of November 1701