Lot No. 323

1574, entire letter written in ARC SUR TILLE (Côte d'Or, France) and sent to the French Ambassador in CONSTANTINOPLE, OTTOMAN EMPIRE with manuscript receipt of Nov. 8th. The letter is signed by FRANÇOISE DE LA BAUME MONTREVEL, lady-in-waiting to QUEEN CONSORT OF FRANCE, CATHERINE DE MEDICI. In this letter she asks the French ambassador in Constantinople, Turkey for help to find her missing son JEAN DE SAULX, VISCOMPTE DE TAVANNES who she believes has been held in captivity in Transylvania (today Romania) during the MOLDAVIAN UPRISING of 1574. Tavannes made a journey to Moldavia and fought in the revolt against the Turks during which he went missing. He was captured sword in hand despite valiant defense and was able to be released, arriving in Constantinople at the end of 1574. The letter took 3 months to reach its destination, it could have either gone via land through the Habsburg Empire or via sea route through the Mediterranean. XVI CENTURY LETTERS FROM FRANCE TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE ARE EXTREMELY RARE IN GENERAL AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE EARLIEST KNOWN. THIS FASCINATING HISTORICAL LETTER IS ALSO THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER IN PRIVATE HANDS RELATED TO A PRISONER OF WAR IN WHAT WOULD LATER BECOME ROMANIA. Authentification by Jean Pothion.