17th century

The article is devoted to the study of a manuscript letter by Cardinal de Richelieu, First Minister to King Louis XIII of France, who managed the internal and foreign policy of France from 1624 to 1642. The autograph of Richelieu is kept in the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg as part of the Dubrovsky Collection. Although it was already known to M. Avenel, the first editor of Cardinal de Richelieu’s correspondence, it had not yet been introduced to the scholarly community. Also, a transcription of the letter without commentary or translation is contained in the latest monograph by A. D. Lyublinskaya. The letter dates back to the War of the Mantuan Succession and is addressed to de Leon, French ambassador in Switzerland. The letter concerns Marshal de Bassompierre’s role in the negotiations with the Cantons of Switzerland. The introductory article provides the context for the document’s appearance, reconstructs the series of events that preceded its creation based on historical sources, and draws a conclusion about the message’s place in Cardinal Richelieu’s correspondence. The article provides a transcription, translation, annotated commentary, and a reproduction of the original letter. The publication of this autograph adds to the research on 17th-century French documents located in Russia, initiated by A. Lyublinskaya, and advances ourunderstanding of Cardinal de Richelieu’s activities.