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 Spanish Succession (1701-14)

Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands

ANONYMOUS

Map of encampment at Aarsele, 1706 (Aarsele, Flanders, Belgium) 50°59'47"N 03°25'10"E

1706 or later

Pen, ink and watercolour on paper; laid down on linen | Scale: 1:15,000 approx. | RCIN 725069

A map of the Allied encampment at Aarsele, 5-18 June 1706. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with west-south-west to top.

The encampment extends for about 7.2 km (4.4 miles) from Cannegem (Kanegem 51°00'46"N 03°24'06"E) in the north to Gotem (Gottem 50°57'51"N 03°27'50"E) in the south.

Additional text: [across bottom of map, in rectangular panels, a key, 1-113, to the named regiments:] Ordre de Battaille.

Condition: one fold line; tears to top and bottom of fold, repaired by laying down on linen; pinholes around edges. Verso: top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • Anonymous (cartographer)

    Subject(s)

    Army-Germany
    Army-Dutch
    Army-England
    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys and Strasburg bend with the letters LVG below; countermark: indistinct, ?LV

    Mark, stamped: 98

    Condition: one fold line; tears to top and bottom of fold, repaired by laying down on linen; pinholes around edges. Verso: top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: 1:15,000 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 1000 Pas Commune [55 mm =].

    29.9 x 45.9 cm (neatline)

    35.8 x 46.8 cm (image)

    39.7 x 50.6 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    Plan / du Camp des Alliez / Commandés par son Altesse / Monseigneur Le Duc de / Marlborough / à Arseille, / depuis le 5me jusq’au 18me Juin 1706. [top centre]

    Additional text:

    [across bottom of map, in rectangular panels, a key, 1-113, to the named regiments:] Ordre de Battaille.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Encampment at Arseele 5-18 June 1706.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 32; [along left edge, black pencil, obscured by linen backing:] [?] le 5-18 Juin 1706; [top left, ink, in Schultz's hand?, obscured by linen backing and only partly legible:] B.[3] Netherlands [and] 9; [centre, red pencil:] 32.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Encampment Plan dessiné du Camp des Alliés commandés par le Duc de Marlborough a Arseele, depuis le 5 jusqu'au 18 de Juin 1708. [The same entry appears under the heading Arseele.]

  • Subject(s)

    Aarsele, Flanders, Belgium (50°59'47"N 03°25'10"E)