‎(LA FEUILLADE, FRANCOIS AUBUSSON DE).‎
‎Journal de l'expedition de Monsieur de la Feuillade, pour le secours de Candie. Par un volontaire.‎

‎Lyon, Jean Thioly, 1669. 12mo. In contemporary full calf with five raised bandes and richly gilt spine. Small paper label pasted on to upper part of spine indicating the inventory number in an estate library. Lower part of front hindge split. Small worm-tract affecting first two leaves, but otherwise a nice copy. (8), 198, (2) pp. ‎

Reference : 60633

‎The uncommon first edition of this famous account of the expedition undertaken by François d'Aubusson, duc de la Feuillade to assist the Venetian rulers of Heraklion, Crete (Candia), against the siege undertaken by Ottomans in the final year of the Cretan Wars (1645-1669) De la Feuillade, who had previously engaged Ottoman forces at the Battle of St. Gothard in 1664, willingly volunteered for this mission. With support from Pope Clement IX, he personally funded and organized a contingent of 500 men. The journal, composed as a letter by a volunteer on the expedition, not only provides a detailed account of the Cretan war but also offers valuable insights into the Greek Orthodox Church. Interestingly, the manuscript fell into the possession of a certain Thioly, who, despite having the text, disavowed any knowledge of the author. Subsequently two more editions were published in Grenoble in the same year, followed by another in 1670. Additionally, an English translation was published in 1670.Blackmer 859‎