Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
Siege of Arras, 1640
PLAN au Vray de la Ville & Citte / D’ARAS Auec ses Forts & lignes de Circonualation / Approches & attaques de la Ville par les Armees du ROY / Comme aussy de lattaque des lignes par les Ennemis
1640Etching and engraving; printed from four copperplates on four sheets of paper, joined; mounted on paper. | Scale: Scale bar: Echelle de 200 Thoisses. | RCIN 722159.a
A map of Arras, held by the Spanish and defended by the Irishman Colonel Owen Roe O’Neill (c.1585-1649), and besieged from 12 June to 9 August by the French, commanded by Gaspard III de Coligny, Maréchal de Châtillon (26 July 1584-4 January 1646) and Charles de La Port, Duc de La Meilleraye 1602-8 February 1664), resulting in the capitulation of the town. Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Oriented with west to top.
See RCIN 722157.
This map illustrates the difficult terrain for a besieging army, particularly the several watercourses with their marshy valleys, shown here by close stippling and the word ‘marais’. The approach works on the southern side of the town are given in some detail, showing how they overran the settlement in this area.
The accompanying text (RCIN 722159.b) gives the keys to the letters and numbers on the map as well as the names of the regiments, squadrons, etc. in the different camps. It gives the date of the commencement of the siege as 13 June 1640. It refers to the French convoy of supplies but does not give any details of the capitulation of the town.
Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) (engraver and publisher) [top right, below title, in title cartouche:] Grauee & Imprimee par le Commandement de / sa Majesté par Melchior Tauernier Ao 1640
Watermark: Bunch of grapes; the letters A G separated by a diamond within a small rectangle, fleur-de-lys above
Condition: eight fold lines
Scale: Scale bar: Echelle de 200 Thoisses.
68.4 x 92.5 cm (image and sheet)
cropped (platemark)
Printed title:
PLAN au Vray de la Ville & Citte / D’ARAS Auec ses Forts & lignes de Circonualation / Approches & attaques de la Ville par les Armees du ROY / Comme aussy de lattaque des lignes par les Ennemis [top right, in oval cartouche]
Annotations:
George III heading: Arras 12 June - 10 August 1640
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Arras Plan de la Ville d’Arras avec ses Forts et Lignes de Circonvalation, approches et attaques de la Ville par les Armées du Roy, comme aussi de l’attaque des Lignes par les Ennemis: par M. Tavernier, 1640. 4 feuilles. avec une Description.
Subject(s)
Arras, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°17'34"N 02°46'54"E)
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. 3076
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
