Louis XIV 1708 Royal Decree Manuscript

Updated September 22, 2026

Louis XIV, Roi de France et de Navarre. - Ordonnance Royale- Cour des Comptes. - 1708 Royal Decree - Court of Auditors. Louis XIV - Montpellier - 1708 Original handwritten sheet on parchment (animal skin),, - typographic stamp and signatures. Important royal judicial and administrative act, emanating from the Court of Accounts, Aids and Finances of Montpellier, drawn up in the name of Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre. This is an official order of coercion and sequestration, related to the enforcement of a financial decision (seizure, delivery of proceeds, deposit and payment), with explicit mention of bodily coercion-a hallmark of financial justice under the Ancien Régime. Typeset header 'Gen[eralité] Montpellier - Cour des Comptes, Aydes et Finances - Greffiers et Lettres de Chancellerie' Presence of a centrally engraved fleur-de-lis, a strong royal symbol, typical of acts issued by provincial sovereign jurisdictions. Solemn opening 'Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre' The period of Louis XIV's reign. Dated 1708, in the midst of the War of the Spanish Succession. Absolute Monarchy regime - Old Regime. The text deals in particular with judicial seizures and the delivery of seized fruits, the lodging of sums at the registry, forced execution at the request of a private individual, the possibility of imprisonment for non-payment, the intervention of bailiffs and required sergeants. Representative document illustrating the practical functioning of the royal financial justice in the province. Handwritten mention "By order of the Court" Autograph signatures of clerks/officers (including Colomy/Florier depending on spelling) Annotations, figures and contemporary visas Old dorsal mentions on the reverse (classification / date reference). 1 sheet (double-sided). Old laid paper, large unfolded format, administrative cursive handwriting from the early 18th century, brown ink. Authentic, unrestored state. Normal traces of administrative use, Creased folds, old stains, marginal wear, light losses without affecting legibility. Text fully readable and structure intact. Uniform patina, highly appreciated by collectors of judicial manuscripts. Original, unpublished document, dated and located. Provincial Sovereign Court. Royal justice, public finances, Ancien Régime, Louis XIV. An ideal piece for a collection of judicial acts, the history of law, royal manuscripts, and provincial institutions of the Ancien Régime. A handwritten page of great historical value, emblematic of financial justice under Louis XIV, combining royal authority, sovereign jurisdiction, authentic signatures, and the administrative aesthetic of the period. Photos are an integral part of the description

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