LOUIS XIV & TWO MEMBERS OF INFLUENTIAL PONTCHARTRAIN FAMILY341. LOUIS XIV & COMTE DE PONTCHARTRAIN (1638-1715). Acceded the French throne in 1643; known as "The Sun King", France's best-remembered monarch. His reign was the longest in European history in which he imposed absolute rule, fought a series of wars to dominate Europe and presided over a great flowering of French culture; his palace at Versailles became the showplace of Europe. DS in French, 1p, 9½"x14½", Versailles, Apr 1715. An order authorizing payment by the French Court. Darkly signed five months before his death. Signed also at bottom margin by JÉRÔME PHÉLYPEAUX, Comte de Pontchartrain (1674-1747) who was Secretary of State of the Navy (1699-1715) and financed the founding of Detroit. Present also is a DS on vellum by Jérôme's father, financier of the Mississippi delta and Louisiana, LOUIS PHÉLYPEAUX, Comte de Pontchartrain (1643-1727), 1p, 13"x9¾", Dijon, Jun 26, 1707. Paper seal affixed. With translation. Warrant dismissing judgment concerning a lien against M. Jean Boussard. Boldly signed and countersigned by a notary. Light edge wear; else Fine. Excellent documents signed by France's most famous monarch and arguably the most influential family members of the period. Louis Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain and his son Jérôme were members of the small circle of Louis XIV's most important advisors and, as royal councilors, they headed virtually every administrative division in the royal government over the course of their careers: finances, the navy, the colonies, the king's household, and the justice system. This family's personal networks of power included political patrons and clients in the courts of law in Paris, the royal court, among the clergy, in the outlying provinces, in the navy, and in the French colonies. Est: $800-1200

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