Marie Adélaïde de France, daughter of Louis XV (1732-1800). Document signed.

$4,896.00

A petition on behalf of Marie Louise de Vidame Comtesse Dessöffy in Bar-le-Duc, addressed to the princesses of France, with Madame Adélaïde's signature to a pledge of 120 livres from the "fonds des missions" for the destitute noblewoman in the upper right corner. The document details Dessöffy's struggle to provide for her seven children, having already depleted her inheritance. A son who had finished military school and served as an officer for fours years was in need of a new uniform and a horse, probably following punishment and degradation to the infantry. Furthermore, the youngest daughter had been accepted at the Maison royale de Saint-Louis at Saint-Cyr, a boarding school for girls from impoverished noble families founded by Madame de Maintenon, but the family could not afford to pay for her journey.

The French branch of the Hungarian magnate family Dessewffy de Csernek was founded by Miklós Dessewffy or Dessöffy, who left Hungary in 1711 to enter the service of Louis XIV, eventually rising to the rank of Maréchal du Camp. The petition mentions the sacrifice of his Hungarian possessions and of his life in the retreat from Prague in 1742 during the War of the Austrian Succession. Finally, the military service of Marie Louise's husband Jacques-Charles Dessöffy (1720-1785) in the army of Louis XV and his ranks are highlighted.

A small receipt attached with sealing wax states that the Comtesse received the 120 livres on 23 February 1779.

Beyond Madame Adélaïde's donation, this or other supplications probably led to the final promotion of Jacques-Charles Dessöffy to the rank of Maréchal du Camp in March 1780.

Traces of folds. Some browning, particularly to the right margin. With several tears, partly affecting the text.