Description:

Charles II King of England
Paris, France, December 20, 1652
King In Exile! Charles II Signed 1652 Military Appointment Form Issued In France
MDS

A 1p manuscript document signed by King of England Charles II (1630-1685), then in exile in France during the English Civil War, as "Charles R" along the top edge. December 30, 1652. Paris, France. Secretarially inscribed on vellum, with spaces for the recipient's name, military unit, and unit commander left blank. A blind-embossed red wax and quatrefoil seal is located at lower left. Expected creases and a few minor isolated holes. Minor discoloration to the seal, and the paper folds spring to be folded. Else clean, neat, and exceptionally legible for this era. 9.75" x 6.125."

Charles II's father, Charles I, had been tried by Parliament and executed in January 1649. This was just the latest tumultuous milestone in the English Civil War, a series of armed conflicts waged between Royalists and Parliamentarians from 1642 to 1651. After Charles II was defeated by Parliamentarian leader Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in September 1651, the deposed king fled to mainland Europe, arriving in Normandy six weeks later. When a young prince, the future Charles II had previously lived in France with his mother, Henrietta Maria, who had fled there after 1644. In 1651, then, Henrietta Maria and Charles II established an exiled Stuart royal court in Paris. They were granted rights, privileges, and an allowance from French King Louis XIV, who was Charles II's cousin and Henrietta Maria's nephew. Charles II remained in French exile between 1651-1654, after which he moved onto the present day Netherlands. His nine-year-long exile ended in 1660, when he was welcomed to return to England.

This military appointment is thus a powerful symbolic document. It asserts - in no uncertain terms - that Charles II is still the one and only legitimate monarch of England, even though he was 200 miles away, living as a pensioner attached to the French royal court. It underscores how, during the Interregnum, Charles II never stopped attempting to be restored to his throne; there was always a plot or strategy to be deployed, with military means, if necessary.

The blank military appointment form reads in part:

"CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, & Ireland; Defender of the Faith, &c. To our trusty and welbeloved Captaine, ________ & to all others to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. Know ye that we reposing trust and confidence in the courage, conduct, and good affection of you the said Captaine ________ Doe by these presents nominate, constitute, and appoint you to be Captaine of a ________ in the Regiment under the command of Colonell ________ Giving you hereby power & authority to buy, arme, traine, exercise, conduct, and command the same in all things for I service…"

The military commander mentioned in this document as "Lieutenant Generall Middleton" is probably John Middleton, later 1st Earl of Middleton (ca. 1608-1674). A career soldier, Middleton had come to the Royalist side rather late, but afterwards commanded the Royalist Cavalry at the decisive Battle of Worcester. After the defeat, Middleton fled to Paris to rejoin Charles II, where he gathered with other English, Scottish, and Irish Royalist partisans, the majority of whom were Catholic. The military organization which the document alludes to was thus a predecessor to the Royalist Army in Exile which Charles II ramped up between 1656-1660.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 9.75" x 6.125"
  • Medium: MDS

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