Fonds GB 0096 AL123 - Louis XIV (King of France) letter

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 AL123

Title

Louis XIV (King of France) letter

Date(s)

  • 1704 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 sheet

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Louis XIV, the elder son of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, succeded to the French throne in 1643 aged 4. His mother served as regent until he came of age in 1651, but he did not take personal control of the government until the death of his First Minister, Cardinal Mazarin, in 1661. In 1660 he married Maria Theresa, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain; she died in 1683 and he later contracted a morganatic marriage to the Marquise de Maintenon. Throughout his reign, Louis was often involved in wars with neighbouring countries, including the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession. His lavish spending at court and patronage of the arts and academia earned him the nickname of 'the Sun King'. A large French territory in North America was named Louisiane (Louisiana) in his honour. Louis XIV died in 1715 aged almost 77. His eldest son and grandson having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his 5-year-old great grandson, who became Louis XV.

Archival history

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GB 0096 AL123 1704 fonds 1 sheet Louis XIV , 1638-1715 , King of France , known as the Sun King

Louis XIV, the elder son of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria, succeded to the French throne in 1643 aged 4. His mother served as regent until he came of age in 1651, but he did not take personal control of the government until the death of his First Minister, Cardinal Mazarin, in 1661. In 1660 he married Maria Theresa, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain; she died in 1683 and he later contracted a morganatic marriage to the Marquise de Maintenon. Throughout his reign, Louis was often involved in wars with neighbouring countries, including the War of the Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession. His lavish spending at court and patronage of the arts and academia earned him the nickname of 'the Sun King'. A large French territory in North America was named Louisiane (Louisiana) in his honour. Louis XIV died in 1715 aged almost 77. His eldest son and grandson having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his 5-year-old great grandson, who became Louis XV.

See archivist

Found in a book from D S MacColl's collection.

Letter from Louis XIV to M Le Bret, President of the Court of Parliament at Aix[-en-Provence], 3 Sep 1704. Address: Versailles, [France]. Informs him that letters patent are being sent to the Court of which he is president, directing that effect be given to certain Articles of Agreement concerning the furtherance of trade and the reform of certain abuses in the Levant.

Written in another hand and signed by the King. Countersigned by Louis Phélypeaux, Marquis de la Vrillière, Secretary of State.

See hard copy catalogue.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

French

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2.

Imported from the Senate House catalogue and edited by Sarah Drewery.

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Feb 2009. Louis XIV , 1638-1715 , King of France , known as the Sun King Trade

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Found in a book from D S MacColl's collection.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Letter from Louis XIV to M Le Bret, President of the Court of Parliament at Aix[-en-Provence], 3 Sep 1704. Address: Versailles, [France]. Informs him that letters patent are being sent to the Court of which he is president, directing that effect be given to certain Articles of Agreement concerning the furtherance of trade and the reform of certain abuses in the Levant.

Written in another hand and signed by the King. Countersigned by Louis Phélypeaux, Marquis de la Vrillière, Secretary of State.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

See hard copy catalogue.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Please contact the University Archivist for details. 24 hours notice is required for research visits.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

French

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Typescript catalogue available in the Library's Palaeography Room.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

On negative microfilm - reference: MIC 242/2.

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal Place and Corporate Names 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area