Russo-Turkish Wars
The wars of 1735–9, 1768–74 and 1787–92
Vidin, Niš, Serbia and Timok river, 1737
Theatre de la Guerre sur la Timock 1737
published 1738Engraving and etching; printed on paper; hand-coloured | Scale: 1:430,400 approx. | RCIN 728011
Austria, an ally of Russia, entered the Russo-Turkish War in the summer of 1737. Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine (1712-80), to whom this map is dedicated, had entered the Imperial (Austrian) service in 1737.
The map shows the routes and camp sites of the Austrian army between Vidin and Niš, and along the Timok, which is a tributary of the Danube, running into it north of Vidin and rising east of Niš. The places mentioned in the title are Orşova (44°43'31"N 22°23'46"E), and Vipalanka, which is either Banatska Palanka (44°50'43"N 21°19'54"E), or Stara Palanka which is 2 km to the south-east.
The Mr Robinson referred to in the inscription on the verso of the map is probably Thomas Robinson (later 1st Baron Grantham; 1695-1770), who was English ambassador in Vienna (where this map was published sometime before 16 July 1738) from 1730 to 1748. He was made KB in 1748. The ‘EW’ to whom this map was sent may have been the politician Sir Edward Walpole (1706-84), a younger son of Sir Robert Walpole (Prime Minister 1721-42). Edward Walpole was Secretary to the Treasury (among other posts) in 1738.
Dedication: [top, following on from title, across top of map, outside border:] Dedié à S.A.S. Le Prince Charles de Lorraine, Colonel d'un Regiment et feld= / Marechal Lieutenant. / Monseigneur je me suis fait un devoir de don[n]er au Public sous la protection de Votre Altesse Sérénissime, cette Carte originale des Campemens de Vipalanka à Nissa / et de Nissa à Orsova contenant les operations de la Guerre sur la Timock, jéspere quelle Voudra bien la proteger, et suis avec un très profond respect de V.A.S. / Le très humble et très Obeissant Serviteur E. Briffaut libraire.
Additional text: [centre, in rectangular panel, an account of the movements of the Russian army from 24 June to 14 August 1737:] EXPLICATION.
For further reading, see:
P. Woodfine, ‘Robinson, Thomas, first Baron Grantham (1695–1770)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to about 16.6 x 18.0 cm; creased and torn along central horizontal fold. Verso: marked offsetting from another copy of the same map.
Etienne Briffaut (active 1730-51) (publisher) [top right, outside border, end of dedication:] E. Briffaut libraire. [bottom right of Explanation panel:] Chez Briffaut – Libraire à Vien,, / ne en Autriche 1738.
Charles Alexander Emanuel of Lorraine, Stadtholder of the Austrian Netherlands (1712-1780) son of Leopold, Duke of Lorraine (dedicatee)
Watermark: Indistinct, a device in a shield
Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to about 16.6 x 18.0 cm; creased and torn along central horizontal fold. Verso: marked offsetting from another copy of the same map
Scale: 1:430,400 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 6 Milles d'Allemagne [105 mm = 6].
29.7 x 45.3 cm (neatline)
32.8 x 45.8 cm (image)
33.1 x 46.2 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Theatre de la Guerre sur la Timock 1737. [top, across top of map, outside border]
Dedication:
Dedié à S.A.S. Le Prince Charles de Lorraine, Colonel d'un Regiment et feld= / Marechal Lieutenant. / Monseigneur je me suis fait un devoir de don[n]er au Public sous la protection de Votre Altesse Sérénissime, cette Carte originale des Campemens de Vipalanka à Nissa / et de Nissa à Orsova contenant les operations de la Guerre sur la Timock, jéspere quelle Voudra bien la proteger, et suis avec un très profond respect de V.A.S. / Le très humble et très Obeissant Serviteur E. Briffaut libraire. [top, following on from title, across top of map, outside border]
Additional text:
EXPLICATION. [centre, in rectangular panel, an account of the movements of the Russian army from 24 June to 14 August 1737]
Annotations:
George III heading: Encampments in Servia in 1737.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom right, black pencil:] T [or F] 2; [bottom right, red pencil:] 6/78; [left, centre, ink:] In Mr Robinsons of / 16 July 1738 to E.W.
George III catalogue entry:
Servia Carte des Campemens de Vipalanka a Nissa, et de Nissa a Orsova, contenant les Operations de la Guerre sur le Timock en 1737: par E. Briffaut, 1738.
Subject(s)
Vidin, Vidin, Bulgaria (43°59'24"N 22°52'21"E)
Opština Niš, Nišavski Okrug, Serbia (43°19'29"N 21°54'12"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
P. Woodfine, ‘Robinson, Thomas, first Baron Grantham (1695–1770)’, Dictionary of National Biography, 2004
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
