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Catherine the Great

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:4,000.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Catherine the Great

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Auction Date:2014 Mar 12 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Empress of Russia, 1762–96, who came to power following a coup d'état and the assassination of her husband, Peter III. LS in French, signed “Catherine,” one page, 7 x 9, January 8, 1792. Letter to one of the most active military leaders of the French Nobility in exile, Marshal-Duke of Castries. In full (translated): “I have received your letter of November 26th. I have read with much pleasure the expression of your feelings, united to those of all the French nobility, that has remained faithful to its King and its legitimate Constitution, and has declared to me solemnly this sacred allegiance. The cause you have embraced is worthy of you and of the distinguished career that you have served in such an honorable manner. It justifies the high esteem in which you were universally held due to your qualities, your talents and the principles of honour that have always been the mark of your conduct. All these titles assure you of my esteem and protection, and I pray God to keep you, Marshal de Castries, in His Holy Guard.” In especially fine, clean condition.

Catherine’s constant worry was to defend the monarchical principle in Europe and the French Revolution was seen as the principal threat against it. She was convinced of the real need to save Europe from the Revolutionaries raising foreign armies and helping the nobles who had fled France (called ‘émigrés’). The autumn of 1791 was a pivotal moment when restrictions to the émigrés were taken by the French Assembly and European courts began to unite in an effort to foster counter-revolution and reaffirm the politics of legitimacy. The exiled French Noblemen sent a declaration to Catherine reaffirming their allegiance to Louis XVI. On November 8th the newly-elected French National Assembly passed a legislation against the émigrés who were ordered to return under the threat of death. This ruling was vetoed by Louis XVI on the following day, in one of his last efforts to resist the French Revolution as Constitutional King. Letters with such important European political content from Catherine II are very rare.