PHILIP V: (1683-1746) King of Spain 1700-24 & 1724-46.

PHILIP V: (1683-1746) King of Spain 1700-24 & 1724-46.
A fine L.S., Yo el Rey, with three lines of holograph text at the conclusion, two pages, folio, El Buen Retiro Palace, Madrid, 25th April 1705, to Marquis Jacques de Puységur, in Spanish. King Philip V states `I have received your letter reporting the positive news regarding the location of most of the enemy´s troops, and that they were ready to start military operations close to Badajoz. Because the Marquis was without enough troops to resist or defend an invasion, I decided to send an extraordinary envoy to Maréchal de Tessé, instructing him, notwithstanding the King, my grandfather, orders for him to march straight to Extremadura where, according to these days reports, their presence is more necessary´ further adding `I specifically order that as soon as you receive this letter, you march to Extremadura with all the French troops located in the Old-Castile….and you will only leave to defend Castile all the infantry and cavalry Spanish troops.´ He concludes `I expect your zeal, and knowing that you are dealing with an affair which the King and I consider of the utmost interest, you will not delay a single instant in the prompt accomplishment of all orders instructed, and that you will report back on all you achieved´. Beneath his signature the King has added a further, severe instruction in his own hand, `The situation is too much under pressure, it´s not the time for you to have fun playing roles: therefore I want that you obey me absolutely and with no delay´. A letter of good content. With integral address leaf, bearing the remnants of a seal. VGJacques François de Chastenet de Puységur (1656-1743) Marquis de Puységur. French Lieutenant Général and military tutor of King Louis XV. Appointed Marshal of France in 1734.René Mans IV de Froullay (1681-1746) Marquis of Lavardin and Tessé, Grandee of Spain. Appointed Marshal in 1707.Louis XIV (1638-1715) King of France 1643-1715. The longest reigning monarch in European history. Grandfather of King Philip V.The Spanish city of Badajoz, in Extremadura, was besieged in October 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession 1701-15. Triggered by the death of the childless King Charles II of Spain, the major European conflict was to determine who should be the next King of Spain and whether a Bourbon or a Habsburg would take control of Spain's very extensive possessions. It was well known that the union of France and Spain under one monarch would upset the balance of power in Europe, such that other European powers would take steps to prevent it. The War concluded with the Treaty of Utrecht which forbade any future possibility of unifying the French and Spanish thrones.Philip V, Duke of Anjou, was born at the Palace of Versailles and was the Heir apparent to the throne of France. The grandson of King Louis XIV, Philip was the first member of the House of Bourbon to rule as King of Spain. The sum of his two reigns is the longest in modern Spanish history.