Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
La Rochelle, 1627-8
PLAN. ET. DESSAING. / DV. SCIEGE. ET. BLOCQVEMENT. DE. LA. VILLE. / DE. LA. ROCHELLE. ENSAMBLE. LA. CARTE. PARTICVL= / LIERE. ET. THOPOGRAPHIQVE. DES. ENVIRONS. DICELLE. / FAICTE. ET. EXACTEMENT. OBSERVEE. DESSIGNÉ...
published 1631Etching and engraving; printed from six copperplates on six sheets of paper, then joined; mounted on paper (Mount Type A) | Scale: 1:18,700 approx. | RCIN 722028.a
A high oblique view/map of La Rochelle, besieged by the French Catholic army, commanded by Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal-Duke of Richelieu (9 September 1585-4 December 1642) and defended by Benjamin de Rohan, duc de Soubise (1580-1642), from September 1627 to the capitulation of the city on 28 October 1628. Huguenot Rebellions or Rohan Wars (1627-9). Oriented with north to top (compass rose).
Jérôme Bachot, the surveyor of this map, was an engraver, ingénieur et géographe du roi and, from 1621, was commissaire architecte des fortifications de Bretagne. He collaborated with the artist A. Hérault in some engravings, and also with Melchior Tavernier in several publications of maps of the Province of Aunis. This map, according to the text, was surveyed, drawn and engraved by Bachot by command of Louis XIII, and shows the topography of La Rochelle and its hinterland in detail. Apart from the old and new city areas with all their roads, the other roads, cultivated fields and vineyards, the wide extent of the ancient salt pans is clearly shown.
In the accompanying text (RCIN 722028.c), Bachot explains to the king that his map is the most accurate and made with all the care and observations which could be made in a topographical map, having researched all the details as much for the features in the town as for its surroundings, the sea coast, fresh and salt marshes as well as all the towns, villages and hamlets, and the roads between them and La Rochelle, together with the forts, redoubts, redans and lines of communications, as well as the dam across the harbour mouth and the machinery which had been made on it, and the disposition of the French navy and part of the English fleet, all of which is explained by the numbers and letters in the key.
The accompanying explanatory letterpress text and key is at RCINs 722028.b, c.
Jérôme Bachot (1596-?1635) (surveyor, draughtsman and engraver)
Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) (mapseller and print seller)
Antoine Hérault: Paris (active 1631) (mapseller and print seller)
Watermark: Bunch of grapes
Condition: eight fold lines; creased; wear to image; remains of two former mounts: the later mount was made from recycled Cassiano type A mount. Verso: surface dirt; large red ink smudge
Scale: 1:18,700 approx. Scale bar: Eschelle de milles thoises ou deux milles pas à trois pieds pour pas Qui est un quart de lieue des pais DAunis & Prouince de Poictou [104 mm =].
79.8 x 89.5 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
Printed title:
PLAN. ET. DESSAING. / DV. SCIEGE. ET. BLOCQVEMENT. DE. LA. VILLE. / DE. LA. ROCHELLE. ENSAMBLE. LA. CARTE. PARTICVL= / LIERE. ET. THOPOGRAPHIQVE. DES. ENVIRONS. DICELLE. / FAICTE. ET. EXACTEMENT. OBSERVEE. DESSIGNÉ. ET. / GRAVEE. PAR. COMMANDEMENT. ET. PRIVILEGE. DV. ROY. / PAR LE SIEVR. HBACHOT. INGENIEVR. ET. GEOGRAPHE. / ORDINAIRE. DE. SA. MAIESTÉ. COMMENCÉ. AN. MIL / SIX. CENS. VINGT. NOEVF. ET. ACHEVÉE AN / MIL. VI. C TRENTE [right, in an oval cartouche decorated with winged putti, surmounted by the coat of arms of France and Navarre above the crowned initial L]
Insets:
[across top of map, a rectangular view framed by an ornate scrolled cartouche decorated with five winged putti of whom two hold scrolls with verse: ] PROFIL DE LA ROCHELLE Size: 10.3 x 77.9 cm (neatline). [down the left side are eight diagrams of machinery and structures, each framed in an ornate cartouche, from top to bottom:] Machine du S.r du Plessis; Profil de / la Digue; Chandelier de Mr de Mareillac; Chesne du S.r Pompee Targon / Po.r servir a son Estacade flottante; Petit Chateau de bois faict en / Triangle, Par le S.r Pompee Targon; Charpenterie faicte la Digue; Ponton a mortier du S.r Pompee; Ponton d / Canons du S.r Pompee.
Annotations:
George III heading: Rochelle 1628
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [right centre, red pencil:] 1/155; [below red pencil, black pencil:] II/7; [bottom, right of centre, black pencil, erased:] Rochelle.
George III catalogue entry:
Rochelle Plan du Siege et Blocquement de la Ville de Rochelle ensemble la Carte particuliere et topographique des Environs d’icelle: avec un Profil de la Rochelle: par le S.r H. Bachot Ing.r 1629, 30. 6 feuilles. avec une Description, chez Tavernier, 1631.
Subject(s)
La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes, France (46°10ʹ00ʺN 01°09ʹ00ʺW)
Bibliographic reference(s)
M. McDonald, The Print Collection of Cassiano dal Pozzo. Part II, Architecture, Topography and Military Maps, 3 vols, London 2019, cat. no. 2868
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
