Safe Conduct Document (2 results)

No Binding. Condition: Good. All Original. 10 x 16 cms all original WW2 (WW1.?), undated single sheet "Safe Conduct". "The German soldier who carries this Safe Conduct is using it as a sign of his genuine wish to give himself up. He is to be disarmed, to be well looked after, to recieve food and medical attention as required, and is to be removed from the danger zone as soon as possible". This instruction repeated in German (see image). Folded once with very minor repair to crease (see image), Fragile.

Condition: Fine. Colorno, October 12, 1715., 1715. Fine. - Over 240 words penned in a secretarial hand on 10-7/8 inch high by 16-5/8 inch wide creamy laid paper. Loosely translated from the Italian, the document proclaims, ["Whereas Mr. Giuseppe Antonio Piazza from Bressanone, a Knight of illustrious blood, having practiced wise conduct in serving us in the quality of a Page, and being now obliged to return to his homeland, it merits that we accompany him with the present letter by virtue of which calling ourselves fully satisfied with the service rendered us, we also wish to give him some sign of our satisfaction, and to assure him of our good will, which we shall preserve for him at all times and in all places. With these feelings therefore, we declare the same Mr. Giuseppe Antonio Piazza our Attendant and Familiar. and should he need to travel, allow him always to pass freely with his servants, belongings, arms, and equipment, because we thus expressly command." Dated "12 Oct. 1715" and signed "Francesco Farnese". A paper seal over the Duke's red wax seal adorns the document at bottom left. The document is folded several times with some staining to the folds. In surprisingly fine condition. The penultimate Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Francesco Farnese (1678-1727) married his brother's widow Dorothea Sophia of the Palatinate to avoid returning her dowry. He cut back on the enormous court expenditures which his father Ranuccio II had accumulated. Francesco adopted a policy of neutrality in an attempt to keep foreign troops out of Parma during the war between France & Austria. However Prince Eugene of Savoy occupied parts of Francesco Farnese's territories and, though he was promised reparations by the Austrian Emperor Leopold I, Leopold's son Joseph I disregarded this promise and declared Parma a fief of the Duchy of Milan. His inability to produce children lead to the accession of Don Carlos, the son of his niece, the Queen of Spain.