Clermont-Tonnerre letters

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MS-0362

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection is formed by 13 holographic letters written in French, 1832-1836, as well as their analysis by Dr. François Velde, who discovered the letters in 1993. The letters are part of the correspondence of the Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, a minister in the French government of Charles X, and Marie-Caroline, duchesse de Berry, daughter-in-law of King Charles X. There are eleven letters of Clermont-Tonnerre, the remaining two of the duchesse. All the documents are believed to be originals and unpublished.

The letters deal with the state of the legitimist party, supporter of the ousted Charles X, in the years following the French Revolution of 1830. The first few letters date from the duchesse de Berry's attempt to start a rebellion in the South and West of France against the new regime in 1832. Other letters deal with the aftermath of the unsuccessful attempt, as well as with questions surrounding the education of the young Henri, duc de Bordeaux, son of the duchesse and heir to the throne.

Dates

Creation: 1832-1836

Creator

Clermont-Tonnerre, Aimé-Marie-Gaspard, duc de, 1779-1865 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

Aimé Marie Gaspard de Clermont-Tonnerre was born in 1779. He entered the École Polytechnique in 1799 and served in Napoléon's armies, became a lieutenant general when the Bourbons returned in 1814, was Minister of the Navy from 1821 to 1824, and Minister of War from 1824 to 1828. Clermont-Tonnerre retired from politics in 1830 to his castle at Glisolles where he died in 1864.

When the monarchy was restored in France after the defeat of Napoléon at Waterloo in 1815, Louis XVII was named king. Louis died childless and was succeeded by his brother Charles X (1757- 1836) who reigned from 1824-1830. Charles's second son, Charles- Ferdinand, duc de Berry (1778-1820) married the Neapolitan princess Marie-Caroline de Naples-Sicle (1798-1870) known as the duchesse de Berry. Their young son, Henri, duc de Bordeaux (1820-1883 ) was eventually advanced by the duchesse and other royalists as the rightful heir to the throne of France. The duchesse attempted to start a rebellion in the South and West of France against the regime of Louis-Philippe I (1773-1850) who had ascended the throne after the abdication of Charles X in 1830 and reigned until 1848. The duchesse was eventually expelled from France. After her remarriage to an Italian aristocrat, she was no longer Regent and was not allowed to oversee the education of her son who was known as Henry V by those who favored his claim to the throne of France.

Extent

0.24 Cubic Feet (1 legal half-size document box)

Language of Materials

French

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection is formed by 13 letters written in French, 1832-1836, as well as their analysis by Dr. François Velde, who discovered the letters in 1993. The letters are part of the correspondence of the Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, a minister in the French government of Charles X, and Marie-Caroline, duchesse de Berry, daughter-in-law of King Charles X.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

In 1993, Johns Hopkins professor of economics, Professor François Velde was using a copy of Le Moniteur Universel while continuing his research on the French Revolution. In the volume, Dr. Velde discovered the thirteen documents that form this collection, which were thereafter transferred to the Manuscripts department.

Accruals

The Accession Number is 93-94.32.

Related Materials

The Clermont-Tonnerre family archives are available at the Archives Nationales in Paris.

Bibliography

Information included in the Historical Note and the Scope and Content Note of the Finding Aid was taken from a written description prepared by Professor François Velde.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Joan Grattan in February 1994.

Dr. Velde has written summaries of each of the letters and has transcribed them in French. He has written a detailed analysis of the letters to provide background information regarding the events leading up to and following the Revolution of 1830. Dr. Velde gives too an insight into the personal histories of persons closely involved in political intrigues of the French court. The work is carefully referenced so that other scholars might consult published sources as well as the memoirs and collections related to Clermont-Tonnerre and the duchesse. Dr. Velde's analysis is most helpful and is included with MS.0362.