[DUCHESS OF BERRY]: (1798-1870) Marie-Caroline of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Italian Princess, daughter of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies and grand-daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II. She was a Patron of the Arts. In 1816 she married the Duke of Berry, Charles-Ferdinand, a nephew of King Louis XVIII and son of King Charles X. They lived at the Elysée Palace and had a happy marriage until the Duke was assassinated in 1820. The Duchess was pregnant when her husband was stabbed when leaving the Opera House in Paris, and she gave birth seven and half months later to a child who was dubbed “The Miracle Child” (“L´enfant du Miracle”). As his birth continued the direct Bourbon line of King Louis XIV, he was the eventual heir to the throne of France as Henri V. The Duchess of Berry instigated the failed Vendée insurrection of June 1832, she was arrested and incarcerated, giving birth to a child during her incarceration. The present letter refers to the birth of “The Miracle Child”. A.L.S., `Sassenay´, by Claude Bernard Marquis de Sassenay (1760-1840), Secretary of the Duchess of Berry, one page, 4to, Paris, Elysée Palace, 19<sup>th</sup> October 1820, to Chevalier de la Motte, Consul General of His Majesty the King of Naples, in French. The letter bears the printed heading of the “Cabinet of Her Royal Highness Madame la Duchesse de Berri”. The Marquis de Sassenay states `J´ai fait part a S.A.R. Madame la Duchesse de berry, de vos felicitations au sujet de son heureux accouchement et de la naissance de M. le Duc de Bordeaux. S.A.R. les a accueillies avec bienveillance et a témoigné sa satisfaction de savoir que vous soyez resté Consul Général du Roi son grand père. Je vous prie de croire, Monsieur, que je me félicite aussi de voir que les troubles de votre pays n´ont pas influé sur votre position et que je souhaite sincerement qu´ils ne vous atteignent pas..´ (Translation: “I have informed H.R.H. Madame la Duchesse de Berry of your congratulations on the occasion of the happy birth of the Duque de Bordeaux. H.R.H. welcomed them with kindness and expressed her satisfaction at knowing that you remained Consul General of the King his grandfather. Please believe, Sir, that I am also happy to see that the troubles in your country have not influenced your position and that I sincerely hope that they do not affect you”) With address leaf. VG

 

Henri, Count of Chambord (1820-1883) Duke of Bordeaux. Known as the Miracle Child. He was the disputedly King of France in August 1830 as Henry V. He was the last legitimate descendant in the male line of King Louis XIV of France.

The letter is addressed to King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (1751-1825) grandfather of the Duchess of Berry. Her father, Francis I would succeed Ferdinand I in 1825.

The troubles and revolts the letter refers to relate to July 1820 when a military revolt broke out under General Guglielmo Pepe, which obliged Ferdinand I to sign a constitution. A second revolt occurred in Sicily in favour of its independence but this one was suppressed by Neapolitan troops.