HENRY II: (1519-1559) King of France 1547-59. A very fine L.S., votre bon mary, Henry, one page, fol

HENRY II: (1519-1559) King of France 1547-59. A very fine L.S., votre bon mary, Henry, one page, fol

HENRY II: (1519-1559) King of France 1547-59. A very fine L.S., votre bon mary, Henry, one page, folio, on the field of Honnecourt [Honnecourt-sur-Escaut, Nord, France], 3^rd August 1554, to his wife Catherine de' Medici, in French. Written in a bold, elegant hand, the King informs his wife that he has signed the advance to the Duke of Lorraine that she has sent, and returns it, and is astounded that his officials have made difficulties in performing her request, given that they know that he will always and most willingly accommodate the Duke. With address panel ('A la Royne ma femme') to the verso and one small light stain where the seal was originally affixed. VG

 

The letter, transcribed in French, reads, in full - 'M'amye, ayant receu la lettre que m'avez escripte pour la requeste que vous avoit faicte notre fitz le Duc de Lorraine, j'ay incontinant signe la provision que m'en avez envoyee que je vous renvoye presentement. Estant bien esbahy que mes officiers aient faict difficulte d'en faire ce que leur en avyez mande, d'aultant que oultre votre commandement, ilz peuvent bien penser que en meilleure chose icelluy notre dit filz seroict toujours tresvoluntiers gratifye de moy. Et faute dire que cella se soit addresse a quelques ungs des dites officiers qui n'entendant pas bien comme ilz ont a eulx eyduire [?] en leurs estatz. Ce que toutefoys se trouvera rabille par la dit provision. Vous avisant que je suis party ce matin de Crevecueur pour ma cheminer de ainsi que je vous ay faict scavoire par ma derniere depesche. Et n'est depuis survenu chose que merite plus longue lettre. Priant dieu m'amye vous avoir en sa saincte garde. Escript au camp de <Honnecourt> le <iij^e> jour d'aoust 1554'.

Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589) Italian noblewoman, Queen consort of France 1547-59.

Charles III (1543-1608) Duke of Lorraine, husband of Claude of France (1547-1575) French Princess, the second daughter of King Henry II and Catherine de' Medici.

In 1552, Lorraine was invaded by France, and Charles's mother, Christina of Denmark's regency was terminated (his father, Francis I, had died in 1545). The Duke was removed from Lorraine to France, to be raised at the French royal court in accordance to the needs of French interests. Following his marriage to Claude of France in 1559 he was allowed to depart to Lorraine and take control of his domain. His presence at court may account for the King's reference to the Duke as 'our son'.

The present letter was signed during the Italian War of 1551-59 which began when King Henry II of France declared war against Holy Roman Emperor Charles V with the intent of recapturing Italy and ensuring French, rather than Habsburg, domination of European affairs.

An early offensive into Lorraine was successful. Henry captured the three episcopal cities of Metz, Toul and Verdun, and secured them by defeating the Habsburg army at the Battle of Renty on 12th August 1554.

The Battle of Renty was a minor French victory during an Imperial invasion of Picardy that was most notable as Charles V's last battle

The main theatre of war in 1554 was on the north-eastern border of France. The year began with a French campaign in the Meuse valley, capturing Marienburg and Dinant. Charles responded by building new fortresses further downstream, around Liege. Henry then moved north from Dinant to attack Namur.

This threat drew Charles into the field for the last time. This forced the French to pull back from Namur. By mid-August the two armies were operating in the Pas-de-Calais. The French army was led by Anne, Duke of Montmorency, Constable of France. It also included Francois, Duke of Guise, one of the most successful French military commanders of the period, and Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France.

On 12th August the French began a siege of the castle of Renty. Early on 13th August Charles responded by sending his vanguard to capture the Bois Guillaume, a wood that was one of the keys to the French position. The Imperial attack hit the forces led by the Duke of Guise. At first he was badly pressed, but after gathering his forces he was able to defeat the Imperial attack.

Guise was unable to press his advantage as the woods were now filled with Imperial arquebusiers. Colingy now played a part in the battle, leading around 1,000-1,200 men into the woods and clearing out the gunners.

This ended the battle, which rated as a minor French victory. Charles withdrew from the area, ending his active military career. He did send an army on a raid into Picardy, but didn't accompany it. Later in the same year Charles began the process of abdicating from his titles, a two-year long process.

Both sides were able to claim victory at Renty. Although the French had won the small battle, a few days later they decided to lift the siege, so Charles's operations had saved the castle.

The French commanders soon fell out over who deserved the credit for the victory at Renty. Montmorency and Guise were bitter rivals and Coligny was a supporter of Montmorency. The tension between the two camps would soon play a part in the outbreak of the First French War of Religion, the start of a long period of civil war within France.