8 - HOLY SEE. – Set of 2 letters. 100/150

HOLY SEE. – Set of 2 letters. 100/150 THE TWO PRELATES WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND NAPOLEONIC FRANCE. – CAPRARA (Giovanni-Battista). Signed letter, in French. Paris, July 12, 1806: “I have just received, Sir, the two pieces of verse, both in Latin and French, on the current state of France and on the reestablishment of the University. The subjects themselves are too interesting, and for this reason, despite the weakness of my eyes, I will take the trouble to read them; as I shall also do with the LATIN POEM THAT YOU SO SUCCESSFULLY PUBLISHED ON THE OCCASION OF THE CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR. Grateful for your kindness in allowing me to enjoy the fruits of your talents, I offer you my thanks... ” (1 p. in-4, small corner tear affecting one letter). Cardinal CAPRARA participated in the negotiations for the Concordat of 1801, whose implementing decree he signed, and served as the Pope’s legate to France from 1801 to 1808, crowning Napoleon I King of Italy in 1805. His lack of firmness in the face of the emperor’s demands led to his recall to Rome. – CONSALVI (Ercole). Signed letter with two handwritten words, “servitor vero C. Card. Consalvi,” in Italian, addressed to Anne-Antoine-Jules de Clermont-Tonnerre. Rome, February 29, 1816: “I have received the letter from Your Excellency Ill[ustrissi]ma along with the other enclosed for His Holiness, which I made it my duty to present to him, and I am honored to enclose the reply. I thank you most sincerely for the New Year’s greetings you sent me, and in return I extend the same wishes for your prosperity with feelings of distinguished esteem...” Translation: “I have received the letter from Your Most Illustrious Lordship along with the other one enclosed for His Holiness, to whom I made it my duty to present it, and I am honored to include his reply. I thank you most sincerely for the New Year’s greetings you have sent me, and, extending the same wishes for your prosperity with feelings of my highest esteem... ” Cardinal CONSALVI was the negotiator and signatory of the Concordat of 1801 on behalf of the papacy. Anne-Antoine-Jules de CLERMONT-TONNERRE, the future Cardinal-Archbishop of Toulouse, had served as Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne until the Concordat of 1801.