What does lettre de cachet mean?
Definitions for lettre de cachet
lɛ trə də kaˈʃɛlet·tre de ca·chet
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word lettre de cachet.
Princeton's WordNet
cachet, lettre de cachetnoun
a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal
Wiktionary
lettre de cachetnoun
A warrant issued by the monarch in ancien régime France, especially one which imprisons someone without trial.
Etymology: From lettre de cachet.
Wikipedia
lettre de cachet
Lettres de cachet (French: [lɛtʁ də kaʃɛ]; lit. '"letters of the sign/signet"') were letters signed by the king of France, countersigned by one of his ministers, and closed with the royal seal. They contained orders directly from the king, often to enforce arbitrary actions and judgments that could not be appealed. In the case of organized bodies, 'lettres de cachet’ were issued for the purpose of preventing assembly or accomplishing some other definite act. The provincial estates were convoked (called to assembly) in this manner, and it was by a lettre de cachet (in this case, a lettre de jussipri), or by showing in person in a lit de justice, that the king ordered a parlement to register a law despite that parlement's refusal to pass it. The best-known lettres de cachet, however, were penal, by which a subject was imprisoned without trial and without an opportunity of defense (after inquiry and due diligence by the lieutenant de police) in a state prison or an ordinary jail, confinement in a convent or the General Hospital of Paris, transportation to the colonies, or expulsion to another part of the realm, or from the realm altogether. The lettres were mainly used against drunkards, troublemakers, prostitutes, squanderers of family fortune, or insane persons. The wealthy sometimes petitioned such lettres to dispose of inconvenient individuals, especially to prevent unequal marriages (nobles with commoners), or to prevent a scandal (the lettre could prevent court cases that might otherwise dishonour a family). In this respect, the lettres de cachet were a prominent symbol of the abuses of the ancien régime monarchy, and as such were suppressed during the French Revolution. In 1789 and 1790, all cases were reviewed by a commission which confirmed most of the sentences. Historian Claude Quétel has interpreted these confirmations as indicating that the lettres were not as arbitrary and unjust as they have been represented after the Revolution, and he hence speaks of a Légende noire.
ChatGPT
lettre de cachet
A lettre de cachet was a sealed letter or document used under the French monarchy that contained an order directly from the king. These letters were primarily used to order imprisonments, often without stating the reason or duration and without allowing for a trial. They were also used to enforce policies or directives. Lettre de Cachet translates to "letter of the sign/signet" and was named for the king's seal on the document. They were a powerful tool of the monarchy and a symbol of the monarch’s absolute power, often associated with the abuse of power. They were abolished during the French Revolution.
Wikidata
Lettre de cachet
Lettres de cachet were letters signed by the king of France, countersigned by one of his ministers, and closed with the royal seal, or cachet. They contained orders directly from the king, often to enforce arbitrary actions and judgments that could not be appealed. In the case of organized bodies lettres de cachet were issued for the purpose of preventing assembly or accomplishing some other definite act. The provincial estates were convoked in this manner, and it was by a lettre de cachet, or by showing in person in a lit de justice, that the king ordered a parlement to register a law despite that parlement's refusal to pass it. The best-known lettres de cachet, however, were penal, by which a subject was sentenced without trial and without an opportunity of defense to imprisonment in a state prison or an ordinary jail, confinement in a convent or a hospital, transportation to the colonies, or expulsion to another part of the realm, or from the realm altogether. The wealthy sometimes bought such lettres to dispose of unwanted individuals. In this respect, the lettres de cachet were a prominent symbol of the abuses of the ancien régime monarchy, and as such were suppressed during the French Revolution.
Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
lettre de cachet
(Fr.). An infamous state paper, which existed before the French revolution, which was sealed, and the person upon whom it was served carried into confinement without ever seeing the authority by which he was hurried off in so peremptory a manner, or being tried afterwards for any specific offense. It was always written by the king, countersigned by one of his principal secretaries of state, and sealed with the royal signet.
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of lettre de cachet in Chaldean Numerology is: 8
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of lettre de cachet in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
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