Other 17th-century conflicts
Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars
La Rochelle and Île de Ré, 1627-8
Vero disegno della ROCCELLA. piazza fortissima de gli Heretici in Francia; cō le trinciere et forti fatti intorno di essa da sua M.ta Christ.ma / Insieme col disegno dell’ ISOLA DE RE, e suoi...
published 1627Etching and engraving; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type A); gilt edges left, bottom and right | 24.0 x 36.0 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 722024
A 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 (1627-8). Oriented with south-east to top (cardinal points).
This map shows the ‘Steccato del Targone’, stretching across the sea approach to La Rochelle. This barrier, the brainchild of the Italian engineer Pompeo Targone, did not survive the winter and had been destroyed by adverse weather by November 1627. Its reconstruction was completed in March 1628 (see RCIN 722023.a). Since this map purports to have been published in 1627, it probably shows the situation of the siege sometime before November 1627. The depiction of the English ships probably refers to the failed attempt by the English, commanded by George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, to take the Île de Ré between 22 July and 8 November 1627. See also RCIN 722023.a.
LM (publisher)
Watermark: None on map or mount
Condition: one fold line; some brown discolouration. One fold line to the mount which does not coincide with the fold on the print; mount creased with surface dirt to the edges of both sides
24.0 x 36.0 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
40.6 x 54.7 cm (mount)
Printed title:
Vero disegno della ROCCELLA. piazza fortissima de gli Heretici in Francia; cō le trinciere et forti fatti intorno di essa da sua M.ta Christ.ma / Insieme col disegno dell’ ISOLA DE RE, e suoi forti, combattuti dall’armata Inglese: quest ‘anno i627. [top, in rectangular panel across top of map]
Annotations:
George III heading: Rochelle 1627. Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left and top, left of centre, on mount, black pencil:] II/15; [top, left of centre, across mount and map, red pencil, crossed out in black pencil:] 1/153; [top right, on mount, black pencil, erased:] Rochelle.
George III catalogue entry:
Rochelle Disegno della Roccella piazza fortissima de gli Heretici in Francia; con le Trinciere et Forti fatti intorno di essa da S.M. Chris.ma insieme col Disegno dell’ Isola de Re e suoi Forti, combattuti dall’ Armata Inglese, 1627. I.M. exc. 1627.
Subject(s)
La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes, France (46°10ʹ00ʺN 01°09ʹ00ʺW)
Île de Ré, Poitou-Charentes, France (46°12ʹ00ʺN 01°25ʹ00ʺE)
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. 2862
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
