Sold For $5,470
*Includes Buyers Premium
The last Catholic monarch (1633–1701) to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, crowned in 1685. LS in French, signed “Votre affectoine cousin, Jacques R,” one page, 6.5 x 8.75, September 11, 1690. Letter to Cardinal Colredo, curiously and erroneously announcing victory in the Battle of the Boyne, sent from exile in France at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. In part (translated): "We thank you once more for your assurances of friendship, for we think that the letters we wrote you on this subject from Dublin did not reach you: by divine mercy, in a considerable battle [rencontre], we had the upper hand [nous y avons eu le dessus], and although we do not doubt that you have already received news of it from elsewhere, we cannot do less than to let you know of it, as we regard it [the victory] as an effect of your good prayers, we may well obtain continued success." The king's two red wax armorial seals affixed on the reverse remain intact. In fine condition.
The Battle of the Boyne was a key 1690 conflict fought in July near the River Boyne in Ireland between the deposed Catholic King James II and the Protestant King William III (William of Orange), who had taken the English, Scottish, and Irish thrones in the Glorious Revolution. William’s larger and better-equipped army defeated James’s forces, forcing James to flee back to France and marking a turning point in his failed attempt to regain the crown. The Williamite victory helped secure Protestant political dominance in Ireland and had long-lasting religious and political ramifications across the British Isles.
Writing two months later, James's assertion of military success was probably due less to a definite intention to mislead than to an extremely vague idea as to how the battle had actually gone. He still hoped to mount a successful invasion of England or Ireland with French help, and did not yet realize that his cause had suffered an insurmountable reverse.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$150.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.
