LETTRE DE CACHET Meaning and
Definition
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Lettre de cachet is a French term that translates to "letter with a seal." Historically, it refers to a sealed letter issued by the French authorities, usually by the king or a member of the nobility, which granted them the power to imprison or detain a person without judicial review or trial. The lettre de cachet was primarily used during the Ancien Régime in France, from the 17th to the 18th centuries.
This form of arbitrary authority was most commonly exercised to detain individuals deemed as threats to the public order or individuals involved in scandalous behavior, as perceived by those in power. The sealed letter contained the name of the person to be detained, the reasons for their detention, and clear instructions for their confinement. It bypassed the regular legal process, which meant that the detained person had no opportunity for defense or appeal.
The use of lettre de cachet was not limited to individuals who posed a real danger to society; it was also employed to silence political opponents, settle personal vendettas, or for the purpose of social control. This powerful instrument was subject to abuse and excesses, often associated with the abuse of power by the monarchy.
The lettre de cachet was eventually abolished during the French Revolution and represented one of the many authoritarian practices that the revolutionaries sought to eliminate in their pursuit of a more just and fair society.
Common Misspellings for LETTRE DE CACHET
- kettre de cachet
- pettre de cachet
- oettre de cachet
- lwttre de cachet
- lsttre de cachet
- ldttre de cachet
- lrttre de cachet
- l4ttre de cachet
- l3ttre de cachet
- lertre de cachet
- leftre de cachet
- legtre de cachet
- leytre de cachet
- le6tre de cachet
- le5tre de cachet
- letrre de cachet
- letfre de cachet
- letgre de cachet
- letyre de cachet
