This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Thirty Years War (1618-48)

Maps, prints and letterpress text covering the major battles and sieges of the war

? RENÉ SIETTE (FL.1619-48)

Map of the siege of Nancy, 1633 (Nancy, Lorraine, France) 48°41ʹ03ʺN 06°11ʹ05ʺE

published 1633

Etching; printed on paper; mounted on paper (Remains of type B mount) | Scale: 1:21,600 approx. | RCIN 722073.a

A high oblique view/map of the siege of Nancy, begun 26 August 1633 by Louis XIII and lasted until the town surrendered on the 25 September 1633. Thirty Years War (1618-1648).

This print is a combination of high oblique perspective view and planimetric map. It extends from Champigneulle (Champigneulles 48°44ʹ03ʺN 06°09ʹ51ʺE) in the north to La Neuuville (Laneuveville-devant-Nancy 48°39ʹ23ʺN 06°13ʹ54ʺE) and Bausseruille (Bosserville) in the south. The rivers and their tributaries are shown in detail, together with a symbol which distinguishes the vegetation of the river valleys from the surrounding land. The extensive lines of circumvallation, together with the redoubts are indicated.

A description of the siege, together with a key to the map (A-I, K-T, V-Z and 1-26) and a sonnet ‘Svr La Redvction de la Ville de Nancy’ appear in the accompanying letterpress text (RCIN 722073.b)

  • ? René Siette (fl.1619-48) (etcher)

    ? Malleval (active 1633) (etcher)

    After? René Siette (fl.1619-48) (draughtsman)

    After? Malleval (active 1633) (draughtsman)

    Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) (publisher) [bottom left, in rectangular panel decorated with strapwork, leaves and fruit:] A PARIS, / Par Melchior Tauernier, / Graueur & Imprimeur du / Roy pour les tailles douces / demeurant en liste du Pallais / sur le Quay qui regarde la / Megisserie. / Auec Permission de sa Majesté.

    Subject(s)

    Army-France
  • Watermark: Bunch of grapes

    Condition: one fold line; offsetting on right side of details to the left from when the map was folded. Verso: remains of mount; some offsetting, from same image; pressure marks from the mounts of items which were kept below this map in a different collection are present on the verso

  • Scale: 1:21,600 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 400 Thoises [36 mm =].

    40.6 x 47.1 cm (image and sheet)

    cropped (platemark)

    41.1 x 34.2 cm (mount)

  • Printed title:

    None

    Insets:

    [top left, in rectangular cartouche:] Profille des Forts et Redouttes. Scale: 1:250 approx. Scale bar: [39mm =] 12 piedz. Size: 5.5 x 11.7 cm (neatline); [top right:] Proffille des lignes de Circonualation. Size: 5.4 x 11.9 cm (neatline).

    Annotations:

    Old heading: Nancy 27 August – 23 September 1633.

    Other annotations: none.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Nancy Plan du Siege de Nancy par le Roy Louis XIII commencé le 27 d’Aoust et rendu le 23.e de Sept.re 1633: avec un Recit du Siege: par R. Desiette, chez Tavernier, 1633.

  • Subject(s)

    Nancy, Lorraine, France (48°41ʹ03ʺN 06°11ʹ05ʺE)

  • 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. 2945

Page revisions

  • 25 May 2024