Collection of Documents and Letters Signed by Kings and Emperors – Europe, 16th-20th Centuries

Collection of Documents and Letters Signed by Kings and Emperors – Europe, 16th-20th Centuries

Twenty-nine letters and documents bearing the handwritten signatures of European kings and emperors: Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, and other kingdoms. Mid-16th century to mid-20th century. German and French.
A collection of twenty-nine letters and documents, most of them handwritten on paper or parchment, bearing the handwritten signatures of European kings and emperors. Appearing on many of them is the seal of the kingdom (some are wax seals and some are inked or embossed seals); a few are written on official stationery. Two of the letters are typewritten.
The collection contains signatures of several of the greatest European rulers, alongside rare signatures of kings whose rule lasted only a brief time, or kings whose countries do not exist anymore. Among them: • a letter from 1575 signed by Henri III (1551-1589), the last king of the Valois dynasty of France. • A letter from 1578 signed by Felipe II (1527-1598) – King of Spain, Portugal, Napoli, Sicily and England, of the greatest rulers of his era. • A letter from 1830 signed by Karl XIV (1763-1844), King of Sweden. • A document from 1878 signed by Frederick III (1831-1888), the German Emperor (whose rule lasted only 99 days). • A document signed by Jean d'Albret, King of Navarre (a region now divided between France and Spain). • And more.
Some of the documents in the collection are signed by kings and emperors whose rule left a deep impression on the history of the Jews of their country. Including: • A letter signed by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II. Maximilian II was considered a supporter of the Jews and during his rule, deportation orders issued by his predecessors were cancelled and the privileges denied to the Jews of Bohemia were regranted to them. In 1571, in an especially rare gesture by a European ruler, he held a parade in the Jewish ghetto of Prague. • A letter from 1753 signed by Maria Theresa (1717-1780) – the Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia, under whose rule the Jews were forced to pay draconian taxes, suffered pogroms and were expelled from Prague and Budapest. • A long letter (12 pages) signed by Frederick II (Frederick the Great, 1712-1786), one of the greatest Kings of Prussia, who was especially hostile to the Jews, issued dozens of decrees against them and in 1752 even stated that they are "the most dangerous of all sects". • Several documents signed by Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor. He is noted in the history of Zionism due to his meeting with Theodor Herzl and his support of the plan to settle Jews in Palestine. • And more.
These letters and documents were collected out of interest in the relationship between Jews and kings. They are mounted on thick paper plates and are organized in two albums. Some of the plates are cut to render both sides of the documents visible and to most of them are attached notes with the name of the signed ruler, the years of his life and the content of the document (clippings from auction catalogues, mostly in German). One of the albums is titled "Collection of authentic autographs of 'kings' throughout the ages" (Hebrew. On a label pasted to the album's cover). Under the title are four references to Jewish sources dealing with the attitude of Judaism to monarchs.
Size and condition vary. Good-fair overall condition.
Enclosed: a letter signed by Anne de Montmorency (1493-1567), a French military commander and statesman.

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Regarding the Attitude of the Jews towards the Monarchs of the Nations

Throughout history, wherever they lived, the Jewish people treated the local monarchs with respect and loyalty. Thus they followed in the footsteps of the Talmudic Sages who ruled one should pray for the wellbeing of the monarch and be loyal to him: "Rabbi Chanina, the deputy High Priest, says: Pray for the welfare of the government…" (Pirkei Avot 3:2). The sages also ruled one should be obedient to the king, saying: "The law of the land is the law" (Dina d'malkhuta dina) and stating that G-d had made the People of Israel swear they will not rebel against the nations of the world (Ketubot 111). They also formulated a special blessing for one who sees a king: "Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has given of His glory to human beings", and in the Shulchan Aruch it is ruled: "One should strive to see kings, even those of the nations of the world" (Orach Chaim 224:9). In all Jewish communities, a special prayer, "He who gives salvation to kings", was said, and special prayers were formulated for the health and success of kings and their families.