King of France Louis XI
Montils-les-Tours (modern day Plessis-les-Tours, France), September 22, [1471]
Louis XI MDS Re: " VIII hundred lances and II thousand children of Piedmont"
MDS

A 1p manuscript document in French boldly signed by King Louis XI of France (1423-1483) as "Loys" at lower left. Montils-les-Tours [modern day Plessis-les-Tours, France], the king's favorite royal residence. September 22, [1471]. Countersigned by Jean Bourr? (1424-1506), his secretary and first treasurer, as "Bourre" at lower right. Secretarially inscribed on laid paper, with red wax seal traces verso. Docketed verso. Expected wear including wrinkles and minor edge darkening, else very good to near fine and very dark. 8.75" x 6.125." Accompanied by paperwork from Osenat Auctions.

King Louis XI addressed this letter to his two ambassadors in Milan, Jacques de Bueil, seigneur Du Boys, and Albert Magalot. The letter recapitulates the terms of a generous military agreement that had been offered by Louis XI's brother-in-law in Milan, in the form of 800 lances and 2,000 soldiers, or, in lieu of arms and fighting men, the sum of 120,000 ducats. Louis XI needed the armaments and reinforcements to continue to wage his war in Switzerland. The region in question--the Piedmont, in northwestern Italy--suggests that the Swiss were threatening to invade Savoy.

Translated in part, with paragraph breaks added for clarity:

"Monsr Du Boys [de Bueil] and you, Mr Albert [Magalot], I received your letters together with these enclosed articles. Regarding the offer that my brother-in-law in Milan makes, to inform me that he is willing to confer upon me VIII hundred lances and II thousand children of Piedmont [soldiers], or, in case I can't get the aforementioned people, to loan me the sum of six 20 thousand ducats, to be delivered at Ch?teau Dauphin [modern day Casteldelfino, Piedmont].

I pray you to thank my aforementioned brother from me in the strongest possible terms, and that you tell him that, God be thanked, for at this time I can only do some, but since I know he is willing I accept his offers? You will be able to use the most beautiful words that you can to him, and there will never be a time when I am not obliged to him?"

Louis XI was actively involved in Italian politics, mostly achieving influence through diplomacy. He notably entered into an alliance with the Sforza Family of Milan; he had married Charlotte of Savoy, whose sister, Bonne, was the wife of the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo Maria Sforza (1444-1476).

In December 1470, Louis XI had denounced the Treaty of P?ronne concluded in 1468 with the Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold (Charles le T?m?raire), and had launched his army at Picardy, occupying Amiens, one of the cities in the Somme region. The Duke of Burgundy engaged in a counter-offensive in Picardy in the spring of 1472. In addition, the English threat couldn't be ignored; if, at the moment, the Yorks and the Lancastrians were fighting over the English throne during the War of the Roses, the situation would imminently stabilize, and Charles the Bold was the husband of Margaret of York.

Louis XI addressed this letter to "Monsr Du Boys," meaning Jacques de Bueil (died 1513), one of his ambassadors in Milan. Squire, councilor, and king's chamberlain--as well as future Count of Sancerre, from 1506-1513--de Bueil belonged to a family of aristocratic courtiers positioned closely to Louis XI. He was the son of Antoine de Bueil and a natural sister of Louis XI, Jeanne de France. His grandfather Jean V de Bueil had been a follower of Joan of Arc, and called the "Scourge of the English." De Bueil's grandfather had been appointed an admiral of France, councilor, and king's chamberlain himself. Jacques de Bueil would remain in the royal service under Louis XI's successor, Charles VIII, who would appoint him official cupbearer.

Albert Magalot, who Louis XI refers to in the letter as "Mr Albert," was the other French ambassador in Milan. As secretary of Louis XI, Magalot would negotiate with the Duke of Milan's ambassadors in 1473 concerning the renewal of diplomatic terms with Genoa and Savona.

Jean Bourr?, the other signer of this royal document, was a law student who had served Louis XI while the latter was still the dauphin. He became Louis XI's royal secretary and master of accounts, and was ennobled in 1465. In 1474, Jean Bourr? became treasurer of the French kingdom.

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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8.75" x 6.125"
The Louis XI signed document comes with its original auction description in French, as well as an invoice from Osenat Auctions (Fontainebleau / Paris / Versailles) showing that it was purchased for nearly 3,000 Euros (including the buyer's premium) at their July 11, 2022 sale. The paperwork is housed in an archival folder from Alain Nicolas Livres-Autographes (Paris, France).

Reference: Louis XI, "Lettres" (Paris: Librairie Renouard, tome IV, 1890, no. dxcviii.