War of the Austrian Succession (1740-8)
Includes much of the mapping collected by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, as Captain General of the British army
Battle of Fontenoy, 1745
Plan General de l'Armée Françoise prés de Fontenoy, par les Hauts Alliés, sous les Ordres de Son / Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Duc de Cumberland, et de S: E: Mons le Maréchal comte de Königseg. / Le 11 Maÿ 1745
1745 or laterPen, ink and watercolour on paper | Scale: no scale given. 1:19,000 approx. | RCIN 729093
A map of the Battle of Fontenoy, 11 May 1745, fought between the French, commanded by Louis XV (1710-74) and Marshal Maurice of Saxony (1696-1750), and the Allied army, commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765), resulting in a French victory. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with west to top.
The attribution to Hancko is made on stylistic grounds. This is similar to, and in the same hand as, RCINs 729094 and 729095. The details of the three maps show slight variations: RCIN 729093 shows three French redoubts facing the Dutch forces whereas RCINs 729094 and 729095 show only two. RCIN 729093 shows the British and Hanoverian encampment in six groups whereas RCINs 729094 and 729095 have four groups. The printed map at RCIN 729096, which is based on Hancko's original, is consistent with the detail shown in RCINs 729094 and 729095.
This map (RCIN 729093) shows the first position of the Allied army, which set off from Briffoeil camp (see RCIN 729086) at break of day, as it reached the plain west of Vezon and Maubray. The British and Hanoverians went by way of Vezon, and the Dutch marched through Maubray. The first reconnaissance positions of a battalion commanded by Waldeck, in the Bois de Barry are indicated, together with their second position assaulting Fontenoy. The two parts of the Allied army - the British and Hanoverian troops - funnelled between Fontenoy and the wood, and the Dutch between Antoing and Fontenoy, are clearly shown.
The entrenched and fortified positions of the French at Antoing, Fontenoy, and an 18-gun battery to the north of Fontenoy are indicated, as is the square formed by the French on retreating, and the disposition by Ligonier of rearguard troops to protect the Allied retreat.
François Hancko (active 1741-8) (draughtsman)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in shield, crown above, a ‘4’ below; countermark: IV
Mark, stamped: 435
Condition: no fold lines; slightly creased; surface dirt along top of both sides. Verso: induced discolouration
Scale: no scale given. 1:19,000 approx.
50.8 x 28.5 cm (image)
36.8 x 27.2 cm (neatline)
56.0 x 35.2 cm (sheet)
Manuscript title:
Plan General de l'Armée Françoise prés de Fontenoy, par les Hauts Alliés, sous les Ordres de Son / Altesse Royale Monseigneur le Duc de Cumberland, et de S: E: Mons le Maréchal comte de Königseg. / Le 11 Maÿ 1745. [bottom, below map, in rectangular panel with other text]
Additional text:
[bottom left, a key to the colours used to identify the nationalities of the troops: English (red), Austrian (green), Hanoverian (yellow), Dutch (orange), French (blue).] [Bottom, below title, an explanatory key, A-D, F-H, L-U, W-Y, to the features illustrated on the map.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Battle of Fontenoy 11 May 1745.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil, partly cropped:] X/40; [bottom left, red pencil:] 9/26.
George III catalogue entry:
Fontenoy Plan general dessiné de l'Armée Francoise et de celle des Hauts Alliés sous le Duc de Cumberland pres de Fontenoy, le 11 Mai 1745.
Subject(s)
Fontenoy, Walloon Region, Belgium (50°34'03"N 03°28'24"E)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
