Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 394 - Coins, Commemorative Medals, Autographs and Documents - e-Auction
Lot: 749

François I (born 1494, King of France from 1515 to his death 1547). A great patron of the arts, promoted the emerging French Renaissance by attracting many Italian artists such as Leonardo da Vinci to work for him; known as le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres ("Father and Restorer of Letters") for his role in the development and promotion of the French language; struggled against the hegemony of the Holy Roman Empire and Emperor Charles V - when support from Henry VIII of England proved unsuccessful, formed a Franco-Ottoman alliance with Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, a bold and very controversial move for a Christian ruler of the time; his reign saw the spread of humanism and Protestantism, and the beginning of the French exploration of the New World.
Letter Signed "Francoys" as King. 1 ½ pages, folio, dated April 8, 1526. The king writes to his "dear and well loved" Anthoine Rocquart, "sommelier of our eschanconn[rie]", who also served as head of the captaincy and guard of the Pont Saint-Esprit (Gard, southern France), and makes him the concession and assumption of functions in regard to the strategic and important "king's house" of Pont Saint-Esprit. François signs bottom left, additionally Secretary Florimont Robertet signs "Robertet F." lower right. Addressed on verso panel "to our dear bailly and judge of Vinesore" (very likely "Vinsobres", residence of the Rocquarts, who were the Lords of Vinsobres). Old handwritten note on panel above; some old archive marks. A few rents in the horizontal and vertical folds do not interfere with the letter. Light staining along creases and some foxing.

Sold for
$1,500

Starting price
$1200