Item 17: Letter from Anna Maria Franziska, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg [and Future Grand Duchess Consort of Tuscany] to Unknown [German Language] (Removed to Legal Box #1), 1717 January 25
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 17
Dates
- Created: 1717 January 25
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:
All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.
Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Fair: document is browning; ink is fading; staining throughout; pieces of manuscript are cut off
Measurements:
13 ½ in. x 8 in. (at widest part)
Description:
The following is a letter from Anna Maria Franziska [Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg] to an unknown recipient, dated January 25, 1717. There is little to no information included within the letter, and Anna Maria Franziska appears to be practicing the art of formal diplomatic writing called curialia [“kurialien” in German]. According to one German scholar, the use of “Euer Liebden” in the letter indicates that the recipient was likely a German individual of relative importance but lower than a Grand Duke. There were no Grand Dukes in Germany before 1800 so the recipient likely was a duke [Herzog]. This may have been addressed to one of Anna Maria Francesca’s own family members, a duke of Saxe-Lauenburg. According to a second German scholar, Anna Maria Francesca also uses the term “freundmuhmlich” which may refer to the son of a sister. This could refer to Ludwig Georg Simpert [Louis George, Margrave of Baden-Baden], son of Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg, but it is worth noting her nephew was only 15 years old at the time that this was written. According to a third German scholar, it appears that this letter mentions Moritz Wilhelm von Sachsen-Merseburg or Moritz Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz. Anna Maria Franziska was born as the Duchess of Saxe-Lauenberg and was married to Philip William August, Count Palatine of Neuburg, from 1690 until his death in 1693. She later married Gian Gastone de’ Medici and became the Grand-Duchess of Tuscany in 1723. The bottom left corner of the document contains a signature of Herzogs Moritz Wilhelm zu Sachsen, which could mean either Moritz Wilhelm of Saxe-Merseburg (1688-1731) or Moritz Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Zeitz (1664-1718).
Transcription:
Special thanks for transcript attempts conducted by German language Kurrentschrift experts, Lajos Adamik, Inscriptiones Alborum Amicorum, Klaus Graf from Archivalia, and reddit users: Claridiana, WaldenFont, and 140basement.
Transcription:
Daß Wir der Nahen Verwandnus nach mehr Liebe und güte vermögen zuvor, Durchlauchtiger Fürst, freundlicher lieber Herr Vetter.
Daß Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] vermög dero lezthin[sic] [letzthin] erhalten schrei- bens von 18''. nächst abgewichenen Monaths[sic] [Monats] vnß(?) zu nunmehro erlebter Jahrs Verenderung[sic] [Veränderung] so wohlmeinend alß[sic] [als] höfflichst[sic] [höflichst] zu gratuliren[sic] [gratulieren] beliebig gewesen, dafür haben deroselben[sic] [derselben] unseren gebührende Danksagung hiermit bestens erstatten - anbey unseren hiebevor an Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] gleichmässig[sic] [gleichmäßig] erlassenen treuhertzigen[sic] [treuherzigen] Wunsch gäntz[lich] widerholen, mithin noch wie vor darthun wollen, daß Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] wir zu erweisung ange- nehmer Freund Muhme Liche dienst gefälligkeiten Jederzeit bereitwillig Verbleiben. Geben Reichstadt den 7. Januarij 1717.
Von Gottes gnaden Anna Maria Francisca Groß Princesse von Toscana, gebohrne[sic] [geborene] Herzogin zu Sachsen, Engern und Westphalen.
Anna Maria Francisca Grand Duchess of Tuscany born Duchess of Saxony Einkommen den 25. Jan:
1717. beyfühgen[sic] [beifügen]
[Bottom left corner] Herzogs Moritz Wilhelm zu Sachsen(?)
Translation: That we are able to express more love and kindness according to our close relationship, Most Serene Prince, dear and esteemed Cousin.
It would have been our pleasure to congratulate your esteemed self most warmly and courteously on the recent receipt of your letter dated the 18th of the last month in this present year of change, for which we hereby express our proper gratitude and fully reiterate our previously expressed heartfelt wishes to your esteemed self, and we wish to demonstrate once again that we are always willing to remain at your service as a show of pleasant friendship. Given in Reichstadt on January 7, 1717.
By the grace of God Anna Maria Francisca Groß Princesse of Tuscany, née Duchess of Saxony, Engern and Westphalia.
Anna Maria Francisca Grand Duchess of Tuscany born Duchess of Saxony Coming in on 25 Jan:
1717. enclosed
[Bottom left corner]
Duke Moritz Wilhelm of Saxony(?)
Transcription:
Daß Wir der Nahen Verwandnus nach mehr Liebe und güte vermögen zuvor, Durchlauchtiger Fürst, freundlicher lieber Herr Vetter.
Daß Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] vermög dero lezthin[sic] [letzthin] erhalten schrei- bens von 18''. nächst abgewichenen Monaths[sic] [Monats] vnß(?) zu nunmehro erlebter Jahrs Verenderung[sic] [Veränderung] so wohlmeinend alß[sic] [als] höfflichst[sic] [höflichst] zu gratuliren[sic] [gratulieren] beliebig gewesen, dafür haben deroselben[sic] [derselben] unseren gebührende Danksagung hiermit bestens erstatten - anbey unseren hiebevor an Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] gleichmässig[sic] [gleichmäßig] erlassenen treuhertzigen[sic] [treuherzigen] Wunsch gäntz[lich] widerholen, mithin noch wie vor darthun wollen, daß Ewer: Liebden[sic] [Euer Liebden] wir zu erweisung ange- nehmer Freund Muhme Liche dienst gefälligkeiten Jederzeit bereitwillig Verbleiben. Geben Reichstadt den 7. Januarij 1717.
Von Gottes gnaden Anna Maria Francisca Groß Princesse von Toscana, gebohrne[sic] [geborene] Herzogin zu Sachsen, Engern und Westphalen.
Anna Maria Francisca Grand Duchess of Tuscany born Duchess of Saxony Einkommen den 25. Jan:
1717. beyfühgen[sic] [beifügen]
[Bottom left corner] Herzogs Moritz Wilhelm zu Sachsen(?)
Translation: That we are able to express more love and kindness according to our close relationship, Most Serene Prince, dear and esteemed Cousin.
It would have been our pleasure to congratulate your esteemed self most warmly and courteously on the recent receipt of your letter dated the 18th of the last month in this present year of change, for which we hereby express our proper gratitude and fully reiterate our previously expressed heartfelt wishes to your esteemed self, and we wish to demonstrate once again that we are always willing to remain at your service as a show of pleasant friendship. Given in Reichstadt on January 7, 1717.
By the grace of God Anna Maria Francisca Groß Princesse of Tuscany, née Duchess of Saxony, Engern and Westphalia.
Anna Maria Francisca Grand Duchess of Tuscany born Duchess of Saxony Coming in on 25 Jan:
1717. enclosed
[Bottom left corner]
Duke Moritz Wilhelm of Saxony(?)
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