MARGUERITE D'AUTRICHE (1522-1586) duchesse de Parme, fille naturelle de Charles Quint.

She married in 1536 Alexander de Medici (1510-1537) and in 1538 Ottavio Farnese duke of Parma (1524-1586), she was governor of the Spanish Netherlands (1559-1567). 11 L.S. "margarita" and "Margarita d'Austria" to "Martio Favalio", 5 to Tommaso Macchiavelli brother of Nicolas Machiavelli, Civita Ducale, Genoa, brussels, written between June 7, 1562 to February 22, 1576. 17 pp.⅓ . in-4. Address, stamp under paper. Interesting political correspondence, The first letters are addressed to her secretary Tommaso Machiavelli when she was regent of the Netherlands. On June 7, 1562, she transmits her instructions to her secretary, Thomas Macchivelli, and to her agent, Giofranco Coppola, concerning the sale of lands in the kingdom of Naples and the disposition of the revenues. Representatives with power of attorney would attend the sale and sign the deeds on his behalf. The sales would take place in Milan, Venice, Genoa, Novara and Piacenza. The property of exiles and refugees living in the Kingdom of Naples was also dealt with; on January 10, 1563. "I thank you for the information concerning the change in Florence and Rome of the golden scudi into cash, as the Florentine merchants do. I remind you that this is not the most difficult part, as confirmed by the Duke of Florence and his ministers, and I enclose the decree of Duke Alessandro against which you are advised to act"; September 3, 1564. The answer they were waiting for was not sent by the Duke (Cosimo I) but by his son, Prince Francesco. She attached a copy to the original, Macchiavelli must see them and get at least 10.000-12.000 ducats insisting on gold ducats or the equivalent. She encourages Macchiavelli to break their resistance; September 24, 1564. "We have sent you a letter for the lord prince of Florence concerning these matters to us [...]. We have seen the form of the discharge which these ministers would like us to give on receiving the money for our revenues. As we are not obliged to give a general discharge, it seems very strange to us that they would want to oblige us to give this one. It is unreasonable. However, you will insist that they pay us all that is due to us, or at least ten or twelve thousand scudi on account [...] keep us informed if you have made the ministers see the opinion of Boccabarile and others who have written in our favor"; December 3, 1564. The payment of 7000 Italian gold ducats was agreed but Marguerite wants to receive 7500 ducats in silver, since the exchange rate is 1 scudo for 7 lire. The payment must be carried out by the intermediary of the bankers Luigi and Alessandro Capponi; finally in the last letters, Marguerite of Austria evokes a conflict between the people of St Gregorio and its vassals of Castel St Angelo.