View of the Battle of Les Avins, 1635 (Les Avins [Avein], Wallonia, Belgium) 50°24ʹ56ʺN 05°18ʹ01ʺE

A high oblique view of the Battle of Les Avins (Avein) fought on 20 May 1635 between France, commanded by Urbain de Maillé-Brezé (1597-13 February 1650) and Gaspard III de Coligny, Maréchal de Châtillon (26 July 1584-4 January 1646), and the Spanish army, under Tommaso Francesco di Savoia, Principe di Carignano (21 December 1596-22 January 1656), resulting in a French victory. Thirty Years War (1618-48). Oriented with north-north-east to top.

David Parrott, in Richelieu’s army, p.58, gives the date of the battle as 22 May but this may be an error (see below).

In a note addressed to the king [Louis XIII], Tavernier records that ‘Le Sieur Boutard, m’ayant apporté le plan de ceste grand bataille, auec commandement de vostre Majesté de la graueur; pour faire voir à la posterité une action tout a faict genereuse: Ie I’ay manqué aussi tost d’executer le commandement le mieux qu’il m’a esté possible, priant Dieu qu’il arriue quantité de semblables occasions, par lesquelles ie tesmoigner à vostre Majesté la continuation de mes tres-humbles seruices …’.

An example of this print, in outline and with no lettering, was published in Les Triomphes de Louis le Juste, XIII (1649), following p.79.

Another example of this print is at RCIN 722085.a.

This is one of an untitled volume of fifteen prints and maps of the campaigns of Louis XIII between 1629 and 1640. See RCIN 722039 for the main entry.