LS in French, signed "Catherine," one page, 9.5 x 13.5, September 2, 1584. Untranslated letter to Jacques de Germigny, French ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, written from Medici's favorite palace, Chateau de Chernonceau. Catherine writes to Germigny concerning the exchange of gifts between France and the Ottoman sultan, Murad III, approving the list of items he had assembled and directing him to send any gifts from the sultan to their ambassador at Venice, Andre Hurault de Maisse. Signed at the conclusion in bold ink by Catherine and countersigned by her secretary of state, Pierre Brulart. Scattered creases, remnants of the red seal to the right side, and small holes throughout (none affecting the signature), otherwise fine condition.Despite religious differences, France and the Ottoman Empire had a longstanding warm relationship due to an alliance established between between Medici's father-in-law, King Francis I, and Suleiman the Magnificent in 1536. This is generally considered the first non-ideological diplomatic alliance of its kind between Christian and non-Christian empires, and went unbroken until Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Ottoman-held Egypt nearly two-and-a-half centuries later. Catherine de Medici maintained correspondence with similarly powerful Ottoman women, notably Nurbanu Sultan, the mother of Murad III, as well as his wife, Safiye Sultan. The exchange of lavish gifts was a natural cultural element and helped to sustain goodwill between nations. An intriguing letter concerning this unusual aspect of 16th-century foreign relations.Format: LS