The Seven Years War (1756-63)
Manuscript and printed maps and views, correspondence and journals from the first global war
Order of battle, 1756, French army, Mediterranean
Ordre de Bataille de l’Armée de la Mediterranée. [1756.]
1756 or laterPencil, pen and ink on paper | 26.6 x 38.8 cm (image and sheet) | RCIN 731069
The date ‘1756’ has been added after the title; it is written in a hand resembling that of Edward Mason, the Duke of Cumberland's librarian.
The 'Mr Dayrolles' in whose letter this order of battle was transmitted was probably Solomon Dayrolles (d. March 1786), Resident at the Hague and Brussels, from May 1747 to August 1757, and British Envoy to the Imperial Court at Brussels in the Austrian Netherlands from 1752 to 1757. He was recalled to England in August 1757 on the commencement of French hostilities in the Austrian Netherlands.
The French Army in this order of battle is under the command of the Duc de Richelieu, followed by Lieutenant-Generals Du Mesnil and de Maillebois. The Marechaux de Camp are named as de Laval, de Beauvau, de Würtemberg, de Monteynard, and de Lannion. The Brigadiers are named as de Talaru, de la Sarres, de Monty, de la Blinière, de Roquepine, and de Puisinieu.
For further reading, see:
W.P. Courtney, ‘Dayrolles, Solomon (d. 1786)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 12.4 x 7.8 cm.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys; countermark: IV
Mark, stamped: 782
Condition: six fold lines; formerly folded to 12.4 x 7.8 cm
26.6 x 38.8 cm (image and sheet)
Manuscript title:
Ordre de Bataille de l’Armée de la Mediterranée. [1756.] [across top of sheet]
Annotations:
George III heading: Order of Battle 1756.
Other annotations: (Recto) [right of title, in the hand of the Duke of Cumberland's librarian, Edward Mason:] 1756. (Verso) [centre, ink:] Ordre de Bataille / de l'Armée de / la Mediterranée. / [in a different ink and hand, on the outside panel of a former fold:] Recd w.th M.r / Dayrolles letter / of the 30th April.
George III catalogue entry:
Order of Battle Ordre de Bataille de l’Armée de la Mediterranée commandée par le Marechal Duc de Richelieu, 1756. MS.
Bibliographic reference(s)
W.P. Courtney, ‘Dayrolles, Solomon (d. 1786)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, 2004.
Page revisions
14 March 2024
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