Item 5: Royal Writ from King Louis XIV [French Language] (removed to Black Box #1), 1665 October
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 5
Dates
- Created: 1665 October
Creator
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
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Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Royal Writ
Condition Note:
Poor. Some vinegar smell. Many stains and general wear
Measurements:
13 ½ in. x 9 ⅛ in.
Description:
The following item is royal writ from Louis XIV, King of France (1638-1715) to François de Montlezun (1609-1697), Lord of Besmeaux, on October 1, 1665 at the Bastille. Although authorized by Louis XIV, this document was written and countersigned by Hugues de Lionne, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs. Within the writ, King Louis XIV commands that a prisoner, known as “Courrier Marquin,” be released. Marquin was a mail courier that helped deliver important messages for Hugues de Lionne when he was away from his court. Monsieur de Besmaux served as Captain to Jules Mazarin’s guards, served as Governor of the Bastille for 40 years, and eventually died at his post. This decree was made at the height of his power, when Louis XIV made great use of the Bastille. Louis XIV was a devout Catholic and after revoking the Edict of Nantes in 1685, he was able to use the Bastille to break up Protestant groups and arrest their leaders. During Louis XIV’s reign, only 20-50 prisoners at one time were imprisoned in the Bastille, for an average sentence of 3 years. At the time of this letter, Louis had recently remodeled the area around the Bastille. Many of the prisoners were from upper classes and paid to have their own clothes, to decorate their cells with tapestries and carpets, and to have time to exercise. At the end of Louis XIV’s reign, on July 14, 1789, the Bastille was stormed by revolutionaries, which is seen as the crux of the French Revolution. The signature of Hugues de Lionne at the bottom of the document seems to contain gold flakes.
Location:
Bastille.
Transcription:
[front]
1 octobre 1665 pag 486
Mons.[ie]ur de Besmaux Je vous écris cette lettre pour vous dire que vous ayez a[sic] [à] faire sortir de mon Chasteau[sic] [Château] de la Bastille et mettre en pleine liberté le Courrier Marquin, Et moyennant la presente[sic] [présente] vous dorminirer(?) [sic] [devrez être] valablement déchargé du soin qui vous estoit commis de la garde de sa personne etsera[sic] [etc.] de Pavie(?) le premier jour d'octobre 1665.
Louis [signature]
De Lionne [Signature]
[back] A mons.[ie]ur de Besmaux Gouverneur de mon Chasteau[sic] [Château] de la Bastille
[sideways] ordre pour La Sortie Du Courrier Marquin datté du pr[emier] octobre 1665 Signé de Lierma
Translation:
[front] 1 October 1665 p. 486 Mr. de Besmaux I am writing this letter to inform you that the Château de la Bastille is to release Courier Marquin completely, and by means of this letter, you shall be validly discharged from the responsibility you held for his custody, etc. Pavie, the first day of October 1665.
Louis [signature]
DeLiermes
[back] To Mr. de Besmaux Governor of my Château de la Bastille
[sideways] Order for the Release of Courier Marquin dated the first of October 1665 Signed by Lierma
Louis [signature]
De Lionne [Signature]
[back] A mons.[ie]ur de Besmaux Gouverneur de mon Chasteau[sic] [Château] de la Bastille
[sideways] ordre pour La Sortie Du Courrier Marquin datté du pr[emier] octobre 1665 Signé de Lierma
Translation:
[front] 1 October 1665 p. 486 Mr. de Besmaux I am writing this letter to inform you that the Château de la Bastille is to release Courier Marquin completely, and by means of this letter, you shall be validly discharged from the responsibility you held for his custody, etc. Pavie, the first day of October 1665.
Louis [signature]
DeLiermes
[back] To Mr. de Besmaux Governor of my Château de la Bastille
[sideways] Order for the Release of Courier Marquin dated the first of October 1665 Signed by Lierma
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu