LOUIS XII: (1462-1515)

LOUIS XII: (1462-1515) King of France 1498-1515 and King of Naples 1501-04. D.S., Loys (a fine, attractive example), one page (vellum), oblong folio, Lyon, 30th May 1503, in Middle French. The manuscript document is addressed to Jehan Lalemant, receiver general of finances in the Duchy of Normandy, and is a warrant to pay Thomas Bothier the sum of twenty-eight thousand, one hundred and eighty-seven livres and ten sols tournois, being the sum which he had lent the monarchy for their wars, and further instructing that Jean Roussellet also be reimbursed with the sum of twenty-six thousand livres, also being the sum he had lent for the war effort. Neatly trimmed to the lower edge, with the apparent loss of a countersignature, and with a few light, very minor stains. Lightly tipped to the upper edge of the verso to a folio page removed from an album. VG The present document was signed during the Italian Wars of 1499-1504 which had seen King Louis XII conquer the Duchy of Milan in 1500 and the Kingdom of Naples in the following year. As King of Naples, Louis faced a new coalition gathered by Ferdinand II of Aragon and was forced to cede Naples to Spain in 1504.