Lot 158

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Description:

Charles VIII, King of France, DS En Route to Invade Italy!

1p document in French signed by King Charles VIII (1470-1498), also known as Charles the Affable, as "Charles" at center. Signed at Lyons, France on March 18, 1494, en route to invade Italy. The king's large signature measures 2.5" 1 x 1.25" alone. Countersigned by Jean Robineau, the king's notary and secretary of finances, as "Robineau" at lower right. Inscribed overall in late medieval secretarial script. Addressed "To My Friends" verso, and docketed in the left margin. A later gloss of the document is found at the bottom, translated in part: "Letter of King Charles VIII, written to the Messieurs Officers of the Chamber of Accounts at Paris, at Lyons the 18 March…[the king left] in order to go on the conquest of the Kingdom of Naples…the following year 1494. Charles 8 only returned from his trip to Naples in 1495." Expected weathering to the paper, including isolated water stains and edge darkening. A few holes and loss towards the left side. Scattered pencil marks. Mounting traces verso. 8.25" x 7.75".

In the letter, King Charles VIII gives instructions to his councilors to pay a certain sum to "our well loved friend Guillaume Godefroy". The calligraphy is difficult to decipher, but a later commentator has annotated in the left margin that Charles's father, King Louis XI (1423-1483), is referred to on the third line of the document as "pere" or "father". The identity of Guillaume Godefroy is unfortunately also unclear. There was a Guillaume Godefroy, priest, who joined the guild of illuminators at Tournai, Belgium on February 11, 1486/7. Godefroy had several apprentices, suggesting he was considered a master artisan. Does this document perhaps relate to a royal artistic commission? A more complete translation should yield exciting discoveries!

The later commentator of the document was aware of contemporary political and military events. In March 1494, Charles VIII was in Lyons, in southeastern modern day France, making his way towards the Italian peninsula to exert his claim to the Neapolitan throne. Charles VIII reached Italy by the fall of 1494, accompanied by approximately 25,000 soldiers complete with artillery. The French were allied with Milan against members of the League of Venice (Pope Alexander VI, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and other city-states including Venice and Naples.) Charles VIII experienced minimal resistance. His armies penetrated deep into the Italian peninsula, reaching Naples by February 1495. Charles VIII returned to France in May of that year. The "Italian Wars" would continue in various iterations for the next 50 years, even after Charles VIII's death.

Charles VIII died at age 27 after accidentally striking his head on a door frame. His 14-year-long reign (he had succeeded Louis XI at age 13) was dominated by his shrewd foreign policy. In addition to orchestrating the conquest of Naples, Charles VIII also gained the territory of Brittany through a strategic marriage.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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June 24, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
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