1695 King Charles II Spain Signed Document Royal Manuscript Autograph Royalty ES

Description

This rare and historically significant antique manuscript, dated June 24, 1695, is a hand-signed royal document by King Charles II of Spain (1661–1700), also known as El Hechizado ("The Bewitched"). The manuscript, written on laid paper with a watermark and bearing the royal crown seal of Carlos II, concerns matters of justice, expenses, and administration. Specifically, it addresses D. Francisco de Cardona, of the Order of Montesa and General Dance of Valencia, regarding the execution of a dispatch from January 31 about the distribution of payments for justice, works, and other expenses. The document includes the autograph signature of Bartolom Ordovas and concludes with the signature "Yo el Rey" ("I THE KING") in iron-gallic ink, marking the personal involvement of King Carlos II in this decree.

Measuring approximately 210 x 285 mm, this manuscript has survived for over three centuries, showing signs of age consistent with its period. The document features toning, stains, folds, tears, missing sections, wormholes, and other wear typical of 17th-century laid-paper documents. Despite its condition, the royal decree remains a rare and valuable artifact, emblematic of the late Habsburg monarchy's administrative and legal processes.

Charles II, the last Habsburg ruler of Spain, is remembered for his fragile health and the political turmoil that surrounded his reign. Ascending to the throne at just four years old in 1665, his life and reign were overshadowed by concerns over succession due to his inability to produce an heir despite two marriages. His death in 1700 marked the end of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty and led to the War of Spanish Succession. Charles's heir, Philip of Anjou, a grandson of Louis XIV of France, became Philip V of Spain, establishing the Bourbon dynasty.

This manuscript not only reflects the administrative functions of Charles II's court but also serves as a tangible connection to one of the most tumultuous periods in Spanish history. The unique combination of the king’s signature, its association with prominent historical figures such as Francisco de Cardona and Bartolom Ordovas, and its detailed administrative content makes it a museum-quality artifact of exceptional rarity.