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Other 17th-century conflicts

Printed and manuscript maps, prints and views of 22 seventeenth-century wars

NICOLAS DE FER (1646-1720)

Map of the siege of Namur, 1692 (Namur, Walloon Region, Belgium) 50°28'00"N 04°52'02"E

1692 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: not stated. 1:12,500 approx. | RCIN 724058

A map of Namur, besieged from 29 May to 1 July 1692 by the French army, commanded by Louis XIV (1638-1715), Sébastien Le Prestre, marquis de Vauban (1633-1707), and Louis François, duc de Boufflers (1644-1711). The siege resulted in the capitulation of the town, defended by Octavius de Ligne, Prince of Barbançon (1640-93) and the Dutch engineer Baron Menno van Coehoorn (1641-1704). Nine Years War (1688-97). Oriented with north-west to top.

This is a detailed map, showing the positions and numbers of guns of the besieging batteries, together with their lines of fire and the approach trenches. The internal details of the town are suggested by the outlines of the blocks of buildings.

The copperplate for this map was re-used by de Fer who altered the details to produce a new map of a later siege of Namur in 1695. The later map is entitled ‘PLAN DE LA VILLE / OUVRAGES ET CHATEAU DE / NAMUR / Assiegée des Alliez composée de pres de 100000 / hommes commandés par le P.ce d’Orange …’. The cartouche and vignette of Louis XIV receiving the surrender of the town are identical to the earlier map. The later map was published in de Fer's Les forces de l’Europe, ou, Description des principales villes; avec leurs fortifications, 1695-6.

Dedication: [top right, following on from title, in title cartouche:] Dedie et presente à MONSEIGNEUR LE DAUPHIN par son / tres Humble et tres Obeissant Servit. / et Geographe, / de Fer

For further reading, see:
J. Childs, The Nine Years’ War and the British army, 1688-1697: the operations in the Low Countries, chapter VII, Manchester, 1991; reprint 2013, pp.178-213.

Condition: one fold line; small piece torn from top right edge. Verso: top left, fragments of paper remaining from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • Nicolas de Fer (1646-1720) (publisher and cartographer)

    Louis, Le Grand Dauphin, 1st son of Louis XIV, King of France (1661-1711) (dedicatee)

  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: one fold line; small piece torn from top right edge. Verso: top left, fragments of paper remaining from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: not stated. 1:12,500 approx.

    35.9 x 51.5 cm (image and neatline)

    36.3 x 51.8 cm (platemark)

    37.5 x 55.2 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    PLAN DE LA VILLE / OUVRAGES ET CHATEAU / DE / NAMUR / Avec toutes les Attaques, qui ont été faites, pendant le Siege de / cette Importante Place, ou le Roy a Commandé en personne / et dont il s’est rendu Maître, apres trente Iours de tranchée / Ouverte depuis le 29.e May, ius qu’au 30.e Iuin 1692. [top right, in cartouche embellished with strapwork and leaves and the artefacts of war, surmounted by the coat of arms of Louis, Dauphin of France (1682-1712)]

    Dedication:

    [top right, following on from title, in title cartouche:] Dedie et presente à MONSEIGNEUR LE DAUPHIN par son / tres Humble et tres Obeissant Servit. / et Geographe, / de Fer

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Namur 29 May – 30 June 1692.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top right, black pencil:] 1/45. (Verso) [bottom left, in Schultz's or Mason's hand?, black pencil:] 42; [bottom right, black pencil:] /2; [bottom, right of centre, black pencil, cropped:] [?1692].

    George III catalogue entry:

    Namur Plan de la Ville, Ouvrages et Chateau de Namur avec les Attaques qui ont eté faites par les Francois pendant le Siege depuis le 29 Mai jusqu’au 30 Juin 1692; par De Fer.

  • Subject(s)

    Namur, Walloon Region, Belgium (50°28'00"N 04°52'02"E)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    J. Childs, The Nine Years’ War and the British army, 1688-1697: the operations in the Low Countries, Manchester 1991, reprint 2013, pp. 178-213

Page revisions

  • 4 June 2024