CHARLES IX: (1550-1574)

CHARLES IX: (1550-1574) King of France 1560-74. Son of Henry II. He ascended the throne at the very early age of ten years upon the death of his brother Francis II who died at the early age of sixteen. From 1560 to 1563 his mother Queen Catherine de´Medici held the regency of France. Charles IX died at the very early age of 23. Very rare and fine D.S., Charles, one page, vellum, 12.5 x 12.5 (31.5cm x 31.5cm), Paris, 22nd March 1568, in old French. The document refers to the funds the King requires to maintain the armies expenses, and states in part ` Le roi ayant entendu que monseigneur le duc de Montpensier eut retenu place pour avoir constitution de dix mille cent quarante trois livres dix huit sols dix deniers tournois de rente sur les cent mille livres de rente dernièrement vendus aux prévôts des marchands et échevins de la ville de Paris en payant par lui en deniers comptants la somme de soixante mille huit cent soixante trois livres treize sols cinq deniers tournois et fournissant des acquêts des dettes qu’il a fait vérifier lui être dues pour pareille somme, sur quoi il a des à présent fourni treize mille livres en deniers comptants et le reste montant quarante sept mille huit cent soixante trois livres treize sols cinq deniers il a envoyé quérir en la ville de Tours néanmoins le dit seigneur duc considérant combien il importe au service de sa dite majesté d’être promptement secouru de deniers comptants pour satisfaire aux dépenses de la grosse armée qu’il a de présent...´ (Translation: " The King having heard that Monseigneur the Duke of Montpensier had retained his place to have constituted ten thousand one hundred and forty three livres eighteen sols ten deniers annuities out of the one hundred thousand livres of annuity recently sold to the provosts of the merchants and aldermen of the city of Paris by paying by him in cash the sum of sixty thousand eight hundred and sixty-three livres thirteen sols five deniers and providing acquests of the debts which he had verified to be due to him for the same sum, whereupon he has now provided thirteen thousand pounds in cash deniers and the rest amounting forty-seven thousand eight hundred and sixty-three pounds thirteen sols five deniers he sent to fetch in the city of Tours, nevertheless the said Lord Duke considering how important it is to the service of his said majesty to be promptly rescued with cash to meet the expenses of the large army he has...") Countersigned at the base by Brulart. Small overall minor age wear, otherwise G. François de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier (1542-1592) French noble, Diplomat and military Commander during the French Wars of Religion. In 1567, the year before the present letter was written, the Duke of Montpensier made his start in politics as he was made the successor to his father's control of the governorship of Dauphiné. He participated alongside his father in the siege of La Rochelle.