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.

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

      ? PIERRE DU MORTOUS (ACTIVE 1750S)

      Map of the siege of Axel, 1747 (Axel, Zeeland, Netherlands) 51°16'00"N 03°54'30"E

      c.1759

      Etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand-coloured | Scale: 1:6,500 approx. | RCIN 729001.v

      A map of the siege of Axel in 1747, showing in yellow the French approach works. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with north-east to top (compass direction is indicated out of the sea creature's mouth in the title cartouche).

      From: l'Histoire des Conquêtes de LOUIS XV. by Pierre Du Mortous: Paris, de Lormel, 1759. This plate is one of 24 siege plans, stitched together with the general index map (RCIN 729001.a) at the beginning.

      Condition: flat, no fold lines.
      • Pierre du Mortous (active 1750s) (author)

        Weis (active 1759) (engraver) [bottom right, below edge of border:] Weis. sc.

        ? P de Lormel (active 1759-93) (publisher)

        Subject(s)

        Army-France
      • Watermark: Sun's face with ten rays

        Condition: flat, no fold lines

      • Scale: 1:6,500 approx. Scale bar: [75 mm =] 250 Toises.

        21.3 x 29.9 cm (image)

        22.5 x 31.2 cm (platemark)

        20.2 x 29.3 cm (neatline)

        24.5 x 40.0 cm (sheet)

      • Printed title:

        PLAN / des / ATTAQUES / D'AXEL / en 1747. [top right, in a cartouche representing material draped over a sea monster]

        Printed title:

        Pl.21. [top right, above edge of border]

        George III catalogue entry:

        Netherlands Theatre de la derniere Guerre de Flandres, contenant une Carte generale et 24 Plans des Villes assiegées pendant les années 1744, 5, 6, 7 et 8. oblong 4.to

      • Subject(s)

        Axel, Zeeland, Netherlands (51°16'00"N 03°54'30"E)

      Page revisions

      • 3 November 2024