Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency, Princess of Conde

Charlotte Marguerite de Montmorency (11 May 1594 - 2 December 1650) Princess of Conde, authentic, autographed manuscript letter (LS) dated October 6, 1634. Letter measures 9" x 13" in size. Princess Charlotte was an heiress of one of France's leading ducal families and became Princess through her marriage to Henry de Bourbon. She nearly became a mistress to King Henry IV of France but her and her husband escaped France shortly after their wedding and did not return back to the country until after King Henry's death.

Princess Charlotte wed Prince Henry at the age of 15 in the year 1609. In September of 1616, the two were arrested and imprisoned at Vincennes, an eastern suburb if Paris, for the Prince's open opposition to the rule of Marshall d'Ancre. It was during this time that their daughter Anne Genevieve was conceived, and born three years later in 1619. princess Charlotte was also the mother to Prince Henry, whom later became known as "le Grand Conde" (the Great Conde).

The Princess's only brother, Henry, Duke of Montmorency, was executed for intriguing against Cardinal Richelieu in 1632. The title of Duchess was then passed on to her. Soon thereafter she died and was bruied at a Carmelite convent in Paris known as the Carmel du faubourg Saint-Jacques.

This untranslated letter, crisply signed by Princess Charlotte at the conclusion is in good to very good condition, with expected intersecting folds. Letter also contains overall light toning not affecting the signature. There are scattered creases and small tears and two red wax seals on the reverse. This rare letter is dated October 6, 1634 and was mentioned in 1981 at the Acadamie of Sciences, during a conference in France.