Title: Authorization of King Louis XV to a Protestant Merchant to sell his property. Manuscript on Parchment, Signatures of Louis XV and Secretary of State, March 15 1756
Condition: Good
A mid 18th century manuscript on parchment, written in French, being an authorization of King Louis XV, to a Protestant merchant by the name of Gabriel Caradel, requesting permission to sell property in order to pay a debt. Up until the French Revolution, Protestant citizens had the obligation to ask the king for authorization to sell their property under penalty of total confiscation.
This manuscript has been signed by Louis XV himself and is countersigned by the Sectretary of State of the Maison du Roi, Louis III Phélypeaux, who also held the role of Secretary of State for Protestant Affairs.
Also known as “the Beloved”, Louis XV was king of France and Navarre, and reigned over the kingdom from 1715 until his death in 1774, being the second longest in France’s history, only to be exceeded by his father Louis XIV. He was the only king of France to have been born and died within the Palace of Versailles. Although he was nicknamed “Beloved” early into his reign, the public opinion soured over the years of corruption reports, and ill-fated wars, all of which cumulated towards a weakened France and Louis XVI inheriting a kingdom that desperately needed reform, all of which ended with the French Revolution.
A rough partial translation is as followed:
"Today, fifteen March 1756, the King being present at Versailles, Sieur Gabriel Caradel, merchant at Usez, in Languedoc, presented to His Majesty that the losses he suffered in his trade forced him to contract debts, which he can only pay by selling his property, up to a limit of 5000. But, being a relative of the religion (Protestant) he indeed needs the permission of his Majesty and has very humbly begged to kindly grant him as such. In view of this, His Majesty has allowed and allows the said Caradet to sell his property and funds up to the sum of 5000, on the condition however etc...
His Majesty has instructed me to send this patent which he has signed with his hand and has been countersigned by me, Counselor Secretary of State and of her Commands and Finances.”
This manuscript has been written in a 12-line format.
One manuscript on parchment, 33 X 24 cm
This manuscript is in good shape, with some fold marks to the parchment, and some staining.