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 Tournai, 1745 (Tournai, Walloon Region, Belgium) 50°36'25"N 03°23'21"E

      c.1759

      Etching and engraving; printed on paper; hand-coloured | Scale: 1:23,600 approx. | RCIN 729001.f

      A plan of the siege of Tournai, 20 April-22 May 1745, showing the French approach works, coloured in yellow. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with south-east to top (compass direction is indicated by the boy's left hand, above the title).

      Inset: [left, a large-scale plan of the citadelle and the French lines of attack. Scale: 1:9,750 approx. Scale bar: 200 t[oises] [40 mm =].

      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 Arg. sc.

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

        Subject(s)

        Army-France
      • Watermark: The letter H with an S above, above a ‘4’?

        Condition: flat, no fold lines

      • Scale: 1:23,600 approx. Scale bar: [33 mm =] 400 Toises.

        20.8 x 29.8 cm (neatline)

        22.3 x 31.2 cm (platemark)

        24.5 x 39.7 cm (sheet)

      • Printed title:

        PLAN / des / ATTAQVES / DE TOVRNAI / en 1745. [bottom left, in rococo cartouche]

        Printed title:

        Pl. 5. [top right, above edge of border]

        Inset:

        [left, a large-scale plan of the citadelle and the French lines of attack. Scale: 1:9,750 approx. Scale bar: 200 t[oises] [40 mm =].

        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)

        Tournai, Walloon Region, Belgium (50°36'25"N 03°23'21"E)

      Page revisions

      • 15 May 2025