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Other 17th-century conflicts

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

STRACKWITZ (ACTIVE 1695-1715)

Siege of Namur, 1695

[PLAN / DE LA VILLE ET DU CHÂTEAU DE / NAMUR, / dans l’état qu’etoit cette Place, / lors qu’elle fut aßiegée et reprise en 1695 / par les Armes des Alliez, / sous la très sage et très valeureuse Conduite du / ROI DE LA...]

1695 or later

Etching and engraving; printed from three copperplates on three sheets of paper | Scale not present on this sheet | RCIN 724076.c

One of three maps of Namur, besieged by the Allied army, commanded by William III of England (1650-1702) from 2 July to 1 September 1695, resulting in the capitulation of the French garrison, commanded by Louis François, duc de Boufflers (1644-1711). Nine Years War (1688-97). Oriented with north to top. The other two sheets can be found at RCINs 724076.a and b.

A note dating from about 1817 in the old catalogue states that sheet 4 of this set was missing.

The vignettes on this map would have been engraved by Elliger and Gouwen, while Visscher would probably have engraved the map itself. The vignette in the top left of the first sheet shows a woman depicting victory [Fame?] blowing a trumpet, while two putti hold aloft the arms of Namur with the crown of William III and a model of a castle.

The 1695 siege of Namur was a reversal of the 1692 siege. Now Coehoorn, instead of defending the town was attacking it and Vauban, who had previously attacked it had, in the meantime built up the town's defenses. He had substantially extended the fortifications by adding a bastion on the Heights of Bouge to the east of the town, and two more to the west of it and constructed a strong stone redoubt between the Coehoorn and Terra Nova Forts to the west. These, together with other new defensive works can be seen on this map.

A reproduction of the fourth sheet, which is preserved in the Rijksmuseum (visited 30 October 2016), shows the scale bar, which is graduated in Rhineland verges, and credits Stopendael as the engraver of the plan.

Additional text: [bottom right, below edge of neatline:] 1.

For further reading, see: J. Childs, Ch. X. 'The great siege of Namur 1695', The Nine Years' War and the British army, 1688-1697: the operations in the Low Countries, Manchester, 1991; reprinted 2013, pp.264-301.

Condition: one fold line; some brown discolouration.
  • Strackwitz (active 1695-1715) (surveyor and draughtsman) [top of title cartouche at RCIN 724076.b:] Tracé en ce tems là sur les Lieux et deßiné très exactement / par M.r DE STRACKWITZ, Major de l’Artillerie de / S.A. Ser:me LE DUC DE BRONSWIC et LUNEBOURG-ZELLE / et gravé à l'Honneur et à la Memoire perpetuelle de / SA MAJESTÉ, / par les soins de NICOLAS VISSCHER à Amsteldam / avec Privil: des Hauts et Puißans Seign.rs / les Etats Generaux.

    Ottmar Elliger, the younger (1666-1735) (draughtsman)

    Nicolaas Visscher II (1649-1702) (engraver)

    Gilliam van der Gouwen (active 1669-1720) (publisher) [bottom left, on stone plinth on RCIN 724076.a:] Invente et dessiné / par O. Elliger / et gravé par G. v. Gouwe.

    William III, King of Great Britain (1650-1702) (dedicatee)

  • Watermark: None visible

    Condition: one fold line; some brown discolouration

  • Scale not present on this sheet

    46.8 x 57.2 cm (image)

    47.9 x 59.4 cm (platemark)

    50.7 x 62.0 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    [PLAN / DE LA VILLE ET DU CHÂTEAU DE / NAMUR, / dans l’état qu’etoit cette Place, / lors qu’elle fut aßiegée et reprise en 1695 / par les Armes des Alliez, / sous la très sage et très valeureuse Conduite du / ROI DE LA GRANDE BRETAGNE.] [top right of sheet 2, RCIN 724076.b, in elaborate cartouche representing draped, fringed material, held aloft by two putti holding a victory wreath and the palm of victory and surmounted with a portrait of William III with, bottom right, a seated allegorical female symbol of victory, with the Dutch lion at her feet and, to her left, supporting an oval on which is written the dedication, with another figure of peace, left, holding a wooden hand from which springs a single eye surrounded by a sunburst]

    Additional text:

    [bottom right, below edge of neatline:] 1.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Namur 1695.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top right, black pencil:] 17/1 M [the ‘1’ is encircled, the ‘M’ is crossed out in black pencil].

    George III catalogue entry:

    Namur Plan de la Ville et du Chateau de Namur dans l’etat qu’etoit cette place lorsqu’elle fut assiegée et reprise en 1695 par les Armes des Alliés sous la conduite du Roy de la Grande Bretagne: tracé sur les lieux et dessiné par M. de Strackwitz: chez N. Visscher. 4 feuilles

  • 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.264-301.

Page revisions

  • 14 March 2024