CHRESTIENNE DE FRANCE (1606-1663) Duchess of SAVOIE, daughter of Henri IV, she married Victor-Amédée I, Duke of Savoy, and became Regent on her husband's death. L.S., Turin April 12, 1639, to M. de La Tour, maistre de camp d'Infanterie in Asti; 1page fol. Confident in La Tour's zeal for "the deffence and preservation of the estates of S.A.R. monsieur mon fils", she sends him "to Ast [Asti] to command in this Place, in case by misfortune the Comandeur Balbiani who is its Gouveneur should be killed, wounded, or so sick and inconvenienced, that God forbid, he should no longer be able to exercise his office, and for this purpose we order all the officers, soldiers, and inhabitants of the said town, to hobeir at your orders"...