Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
Lechenich, 1642
Eigentlicher Grundt und Abriss des Stätlein und Schloss Lechnich (sampt den umligenten oerder,) wie solches belaegert, beschossen, besturmbt, und mit schandt verlassen / worden ist 1642
1642 or laterEtched view/map and letterpress text printed on the same sheet of paper; mounted on paper (Mount Type B); gilt edges top and right | 20.2 x 31.3 cm (neatline) | RCIN 723017
A high oblique view of Lechenich, unsuccessfully besieged by the French, Hessians and Swedes, commanded by Jean Baptiste Budes, Comte de Guébriant (2 February 1602-24 November 1643). Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Oriented with west to top (compass points named top centre, right centre, bottom centre, and left centre).
The print shows the dreadful destruction wrought on the town by the besiegers' guns but the strength of the fortifications was such that no headway was made and the siege, which lasted from 18 April to 26 May, was raised. Surrounding settlements are shown in flames: Ahrem (50°47ʹ04ʺN 06°45ʹ51ʺE), Harrich (Herrig 50°48ʹ08ʺN 06°43ʹ30ʺE), Dirmetzheim (Dirmerzheim 50°49ʹ28ʺN 06°46ʹ05ʺE), and Blesem (Bliesheim 50°47ʹ06ʺN 06°49ʹ37ʺE).
Another example of this print, is at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The letterpress text accompanying this copy, which gives an account of the siege, also printed on the same sheet, has a slightly different title, referring to the 'Frantzösisch Weymarisch und Hessischer Armeen' and with a slightly different setting so that the key to the letters on the map ends the text, bottom right.
Attributed to Matthäus Merian I (1593-1650) (cartographer)
Watermark: View & text: indistinct, crowned shield. Mount: none.
Condition: three fold lines; pressure marks
20.2 x 31.3 cm (neatline)
20.9 x 31.3 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
40.5 x 32.0 cm (sheet)
51.0 x 39.7 cm (mount)
Printed title:
Eigentlicher Grundt und Abriss des Stätlein und Schloss Lechnich (sampt den umligenten oerder,) wie solches belaegert, beschossen, besturmbt, und mit schandt verlassen / worden ist 1642. [across top of image]
Printed title:
Gruendliche und warhafftige Beschreibung der nunmehr in 5 ad 6. Wochen lang von der gesampten Hessen Weymarischen angestelter und jetzo mit scha- / den deroselben am 26. May gentzlich quittirter und auffgehebter Belegerung dess Stattleins und Schlosses LECHENICH. [text, below view]
Annotations:
George III heading: Lechenich in the Archbishopric of Cologne 26 May 1642.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top, black pencil, erased and partly legible:] ... besieged by [?]; [top right, black pencil:] 1642. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Lechenich Eigentlicher Grundt und Abriss des Statlein und Schloss Lechenich, samt den umligenten order wie solches belagert, beschossen, besturmbt, und mit schandt verlassen worden ist 26 May 1642. [with a Description]
Subject(s)
Lechenich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (50°47ʹ58ʺN 06°46ʹ11ʺE)
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. 3104
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
