Thirty Years War (1618-48)
Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war
Siege of Gravelines, 1644
Plan de la Forte Ville / DE / GRAVELINGE / Assiege par L’Armes du Roy / de France le 31 iesme d’Mey / L’an 1644
1644 or laterEtching and engraving; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of paper, joined | Scale: 1:72,000 approx. | RCIN 723048
A map of the Spanish-held town of Gravelines, besieged from 16 May to 29 July by the French, commanded by Gaston, Duc d'Orléans (25 April 1608-2 February 1660), and blockaded by Dutch ships, resulting in the capitulation of the town on 29 July 1644. Thirty Years War (1618-1648). Oriented with north-north-west to top (cardinal points).
An earlier state of this map is distinguished by 'les Armes' in the title, instead of 'L'Armes' and the key runs only from 1-17, a blank space being left thereafter. It covers the events up to 30th May and lacks the extension of topographical detail which is present on the bottom plate of RCIN 723048. See the Bibliothèque nationale de France département des Cartes et plans, GE D-15386. A German version of the earlier state is at RCIN 723049.
The geographical coverage of RCIN 723048 extends from Calais 50°57ʹ07ʺN 01°51ʹ23ʺE) in the north-west to Duynquerqe (Dunkerque 51°01ʹ59ʺN 02°22ʹ35ʺE) in the north-east, and from Liques (Licques 50°47ʹ03ʺN 01°5618ʺE) in the south-west to Wieldere (Wylder 50°54ʹ45ʺN 02°29ʹ32ʺE) in the south-east.
Damien Vaux (active 1640-44) (mapseller) [right, in rectangular panel below key:] Et se vendent à Roan chez / Damien Vaux aupres du Pont.
Watermark: None visible
Condition: one fold line; printed on thin paper; brown discolouration; remains of old guard along verso of central fold
Scale: 1:72,000 approx. Scale bar: Eschelle d’Vne Lieue [67 mm =].
38.0 x 46.5 cm (image and neatline)
inner platemarks cropped (platemark)
40.7 x 48.2 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
Plan de la Forte Ville / DE / GRAVELINGE / Assiege par L’Armes du Roy / de France le 31 iesme d’Mey / L’an 1644. [top right, in banner]
Additional text:
[top right, in a rectangular panel, a key, 1-26:] Explication de / Nombres.
Annotations:
George III heading: Gravelines 26 May-29 July 1644.
Other annotations: none.
George III catalogue entry:
Gravelines Plan de la Ville de Gravelinge assiegée par les Armes du Roy de France le 31 de May 1644; chez Damien Vaux.
Subject(s)
Gravelines, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°59ʹ11ʺN 20°07ʹ41ʺE)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
