Zeithain and Mühlberg, 1730

A map showing the Saxon army drawn up in order of battle at the Zeithainer Lustlager (the location is sometimes described as at Mühlberg, which lies to the north-west of Zeithain), promoted by Frederick Augustus I (1670-1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (as Augustus II) in order to display the prowess of his newly reorganised army, from 30 May to 28 June 1730. Oriented with north-west to top.

The map is unfinished; a mainly blank cartouche, bottom right, representing a trompe l'oeil scroll, contains the scale bars. The local road network, fluvial and water features, and the layout of the surrounding villages are shown in detail. The principal routes are annotated with their destinations.

The order of battle shows 27 battalions of infantry and 48 squadrons of horse, with the names of the units. The Pavillion, in which sat the King of Poland and visitors, in the centre of the exercise area, was on a line with two pyramids, one placed at each of the west and east ends.

The area covered by the map extends approximately from Gorisch (now the Gohrischheide) in the north-west to Tiefenau (51°23ʹ24ʺN 13°23ʹ48ʺE) in the north-east, and Streumen (51°21ʹ24ʺN 13°24ʹ13ʺE) in the east, and from Grobe (Gröba 51°19ʹ19ʺN 13°16ʹ46ʺE) in the south-west to Glaubitz (51°19ʹ30ʺN 13°22ʹ41ʺE) in the south-east.

Condition: two fold lines; left, small hole, above ‘Bromnitz’. Verso: induced discolouration; surface dirt along left and right edges.