Béarn - The coat of arms of the Princes de Ligne family - Lot 245

Béarn - The coat of arms of the Princes de Ligne family MARCA (Pierre de) archbishop Histoire de Béarn, containing the origin of the kings of Navarre, the dukes of Burgundy, marquis de Gothie, princes of Béarn, counts of Carcassonne, Foix and Bigorre. Avec diverses observations géographiques et historiques, concernant principalement lesdits Païs. Paris, Vve Jean Camusat, 1640. In folio: 8f, 850pp, 4f (notes), 6f (table); 3 engraved vignettes representing 5 seals, a woodcut genealogical table (pages 399 skipped, 401 repeated, 813-814 repeated without missing or duplicating). Frontispiece portrait of the author missing. Occasional spotting. Contemporary Jansenist morocco, ornate ribbed spine, red title-piece, gilt fillet and cold roulette framing the boards, central gilt medallion with the Noailles coat of arms, cold roulette on the edges, gilt edges, First edition of this major work. This statesman from Béarn, born in Gan in 1594, was a faithful follower of Richelieu. In 1660, he became intendant and general visitor to the principality of Catalonia, with the task of maintaining the country's privileges and ecclesiastical immunities. In this capacity, he had copies made of many important historical documents. Had Louis XIV not decided to rule alone, Marca would certainly have succeeded Mazarin. He ended his career as Archbishop of Paris. On his death in 1662, he bequeathed all his papers to his secretary Etienne Baluze. Provenance: Arms attributable to a member of the Princes de Ligne family according to Professor Jacques Labarère; printed bookplate Dom A. Liqthuralde ?; printed bookplate van Wilfried Parret.