King François I Letter signed War vs Charles V, captivity and hostages

  

King FRANÇOIS I - Signed letter - War vs Charles V, captivity and hostages - 1526. His reign is marked by wars against his powerful adversary Emperor Charles V and significant diplomatic events. During 4 wars, François I records successes and defeats but prevents Charles V from realizing his territorial ambitions, especially over the Duchy of Burgundy, the achievement of which would compromise the integrity of the kingdom. Signed letter addressed to his general financial advisor in the Duchy of Burgundy, Raoul II Hurault, Saint-Germain en Laye, March 25, 1526, vellum in plano 27 x 55 cm, a few missing words at the bottom of the document without affecting the King's signature and restoration on moisture trace.

Remarkable document in which François I explains his situation and that of the Kingdom after the defeat of Pavia (1525): the war against Charles V ("resisting invasions and actions of our enemies and adversaries. Serious misfortunes and adversities that have occurred in our kingdom due to the wars"), his captivity ("we have been released from the hands of the Emperor who has long held us prisoner in his Spanish lands"), his sons the Dauphin François and his younger brother Henri d'Orléans, future Henri II, left as hostages to Charles V to remain free ("we have been forced with great regret and displeasure to give and deliver to him in our place as hostages our very dear and beloved children"), the unacceptable Treaty of Madrid "this said treaty too shameful and disgraceful. Along with this, too prejudicial and damaging for us and our kingdom" [Duchy of Burgundy, County of Flanders and Artois], the necessity in which he found himself to enter into an alliance with "the Pope" and the Lordship of Venice, the maintenance of 2 armies in order to counter the "efforts and actions of the said elected Emperor, who without this would now be the monarch of all Italy and other states disposed to his pleasure", Charles V's preparations for a new war ("the Emperor secretly makes large preparations to lead us into war in several regions and places in this upcoming summer season"). This situation justifies his strong need for money and he orders to collect in the hands of the receivers of aids and taxes of the generalité of Burgundy half of the salaries of all royal officers. Eight days before the writing of this letter (March 17, 1526), François I was released and had to deliver his two eldest sons to Charles V as a guarantee of the execution of the Treaty of Madrid. Upon his release, he hastened to proclaim by the Parliament of Paris that the Duchy of Burgundy was inalienable, that the Treaty of Madrid was sovereignly invalidated, and that the King of France could reject it. The non-ratification of the Treaty will lead to a new war. Raoul II Hurault (-1527), Lord of Cheverny, La Grange, Vibraye, Cour-sur-Loire, Baron of Huriel, General of Finances, married to Marie de Beaune, daughter of Jacques de Beaune, Lord of Semblançay, Viscount of Tours, Chamberlain of the King, and Superintendent of Finances of François I. Attached transcription - Contact me before placing any order for shipping.