Lot n° 23
Estimation :
50 - 75
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Result
: 100EUR
"The soldier's breviary" - MONLUC (Blaise... - Lot 23 - Les ventes Damien Voglaire SRL
"The soldier's breviary" - MONLUC (Blaise de). Commentaries of Messire de Montluc, Mareschal of France. Where are described the combats, encounters, skirmishes, battles, sieges, assaults, escalations, prinses or surprinses of cities and strong places [...]. Paris, Adrian Beys, 1607, 2 volumes bound in 1 small vol. 8°, [8]-482 and 410 (pagination errors)-[38] p., full 18th c. brown calf, spine with decorated nerves (worn binding with small lacks). Uncommon edition of these memoirs first published in 1592 in Bordeaux. It is a fundamental text for the history of the Wars of Religion. Blaise de Lasseran de Massencome, lord of Monluc, also known as Blaise de Monluc, born between 1500 and 1502 in Saint-Puy (Gascony) and died on July 26, 1577 in Estillac (Gascony), was a marshal of France and a memoirist of the 16th century. Servant of five kings (François I, Henri II, François II, Charles IX and Henri III), Monluc distinguished himself during the Italian wars and the wars of religion and was elevated to the dignity of marshal of France in 1574. He is best known for his Commentaries, which cover a vast period from 1521 to 1576, and whose text was published in 1592, after the author's death. The peace of Saint-Germain, signed on 8 August 1570, was followed by great setbacks for Monluc. The monarchy was then engaged in a policy of reconciliation with the Protestants. The old captain, hated by all Protestants, paid the price and Charles IX sacrificed him on the altar of politics: the lieutenancy of Guyenne was withdrawn from him, no doubt under the influence of the Montmorencies, whose enmity he had attracted, and an audit of his accounts was initiated by his enemies. He was accused of having plundered the coffers of the State, of having taken from the funds intended for the raising of troops and the maintenance of the war, and of having appropriated the property of certain Huguenots. The Duke of Anjou, the future Henry III, who had, during the campaign of 1569, listened to his advice with reference and had some sympathy for Monluc, intervened to bring the trial of his accounts to a favourable conclusion for him. In his retirement, Monluc had begun, with the help of secretaries, to write his Commentaries, which he dedicated to the Duke of Anjou, heir to the throne of France in the event of the death of his brother Charles IX. Initially undertaken to defend himself from the accusations brought against him, the writing of his memoirs later became a way for Monluc to advise future captains and to justify some of his actions. While he relied primarily on his legendary memory to recount his career, Monluc also consulted the historical works of his time as well as the archives. Rich in concrete details and practical advice, the Commentaries were praised from the moment they were published, with the King of Navarre and future Henry IV not hesitating to describe them as the "soldier's breviary". Called by the Duke of Anjou in early 1573 to advise him during the siege of La Rochelle, he took his place on his staff.
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