Plan of the battle of Piacenza, 1746 (Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) 45°02'48"N 09°41'57"E

A map of the Battle of Piacenza, 16 June 1746, and of the encampments of the French, Spanish and Imperial (Austrian) armies. War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). Oriented with north-east to top.

The Battle of Piacenza took place on 16 June 1746 between the French and Spanish army and the Austrians and Sardinians and was won by the Austrians. An account of the battle appeared in the London Gazette of 8 July 1746 (RCIN 730050.a). The lines of the French and Spanish encampments surround Piacenza, those of the Austrians are shown by rectangles with a diagonal divide. The positions of the different armies in battle are shown by rectangles with a solid colour fill. The fact that the encamped regiments of the Imperial (Austrian) army are named, whereas those of the French and Spanish are not, suggests that this map was made by an Austrian Officer. Distinction is made between rough pasture, cultivated land, and marshland (in the area of the old course of the River Po).

Formerly contained in a rough buff folder 51.3 x 31.7 cm, with the old heading in black pencil and red ink, and an ink inscription: No. 527-528 and a black pencil annotation: & 50a CMB Nov' 86 [i.e. 1986].

Additional text: [bottom left, in cartouche representing a scroll, a key, 1-9, to the encampments of the different armies, the batteries, marshes, bridges and other features on the map:] Explication. [Bottom right, in a cartouche representing a stone plinth:] Le marquée bleu sig = / nifie la situation / des Francois dans la / Bataille. / Le marquée rouge sig = / nifie la situation / des Espagna et Genois. / Le marquée Jaune / e la situation de / L'armeé Imperiale.

Condition: one fold line; bottom right corner cut off diagonally; slight foxing on both sides.