18th Century French Nobility Patent.

[DE CARRARA, Cajetau-Louis-Antoine].

$2,750.00

Item Number: 133430

Rare 18th century French Patent of Nobility for Cajetau-Louis-Antoine de Carrara. Folio, bound in full velvet, the patent is comprised of five vellum leaves, the first with calligraphy within an elaborate engraved border; the third leaf with a gilt-painted armorial miniature, all edges gilt, rope bound in. Dated November 13, 1710, the patent is signed by Marie Therese, J. G. Van de Veld, F. L. Gilbert, and J. DeWitte. In very good condition.

The French nobility was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on June 23, 1790 during the French Revolution. Families of the French nobility could have two origins as to their principle of nobility: The families of immemorial nobility and the ennobled families. Sources differ about the actual number of French families of noble origin, but agree that it was proportionally among the smallest noble classes in Europe. Before Louis XIV imposed his will on the nobility, the great families of France often claimed a fundamental right to rebel against unacceptable royal abuse. The Wars of Religion, the Fronde, the civil unrest during the minority of Charles VIII and the regencies of Anne of Austria and Marie de Medici are all linked to these perceived loss of rights at the hand of a centralizing royal power.