In September 2025, the Bibliothèque de Versailles, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented to the public a unique exhibition devoted to the history of French diplomacy under the Ancien Régime. This exhibition, the first of its kind for the institution, provided an opportunity to reconnect with the prestigious history of its historic building, the former headquarters of the Ministry of the Navy and Foreign Affairs under Louis XV and Louis XVI.
The Foundation first partnered with the Versailles Municipal Library in 2023, on the occasion of the exhibition « Trésors des Bibliothèques de Versailles » (‘Treasures of the Libraries of Versailles’). At that time, it had funded the restoration of two exceptional documents: the handwritten notes of an assistant to the sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, and a copy of the first Brussels edition of Miguel de Cervantes’ Nouvelles exemplaires.
In keeping with this commitment, the Foundation was delighted to partner once again with the Versailles Municipal Library to support the catalogue for the exhibition ‘Excellences! Foreign Affairs under the Ancien Régime’. Organised by the library in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this event offered visitors the opportunity to view items from the royal libraries and the personal collections of prominent diplomats, bearing witness to key moments in French diplomacy. It also highlighted the rich history of the venue hosting the exhibition — the former Ministry of the Navy and Foreign Affairs under Louis XV and Louis XVI, where part of the treaty recognising the independence of the United States was negotiated.
Supported by the Fondation Etrillard, this catalogue brings together contributions from numerous historians and experts in diplomacy; we had the honour of writing the foreword to this volume.