Comte de Cagliostro - Mémoire pour le Comte de Cagliostro - 1786

Historical context This document is a legal mémoire written in 1786 for the defense of the Count of Cagliostro (Giuseppe Balsamo), accused in the Affair of the Queen's Necklace. This affair, which broke out in France at the end of Louis XVI's reign, involved several notable figures, including Cardinal de Rohan and the Countess of la Motte, and helped tarnish the reputation of Queen Marie Antoinette. Content of the mémoire The text is presented as a plea before the General Prosecutor, in the presence of the other defendants. It also contains an excerpt from a letter by Count de Vergennes, Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed to M. Gérard, provost of Strasbourg, dated March 17, 1787, asserting that Cagliostro was seeking only tranquility, safety, and hospitality. Historical importance This mémoire is a valuable source for historians, as it illustrates defense strategies in Old Regime trials and provides insight into the political and social tensions of the era. It is also a direct testimony of how Cagliostro sought to defend himself against the accusations. A rare and precious work for historians...

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