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

? GEORGE AUGUSTUS SCHULTZ (ACTIVE 1734-49)

Map of encampment at Soignies, 1707 (Soignies, Walloon Region, Belgium) 50°34'44"N 04°04'16"E

1742 or later

Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: not stated. 1:26,000 approx. | RCIN 725094

A map of the encampment of the Allied army, commanded by John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), at Soignies, 26 May 1707. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with south-west to top.

The attribution to Schultz is made on stylistic grounds. The Allied army, commanded by the Duke of Cumberland (1721-65), encamped at Soignies in May 1745 during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48), and it is possible that Cumberland asked Schultz to copy a map from the earlier war to give him an idea of how best to place the camp in 1745.

The encampment extends approximately from Croisseau (not named on the map; 50°36'47"N 04°02'10"E) in the north to Naast (50°33'14"N 04°06'02"E) in the south, running west of Soignies and Horrue (Horrues 50°36'30"N 04°02'34"E).

Condition: two fold lines; an old tear on the centre of the folds was repaired with paper pasted to the verso before being laid down on linen. Verso: induced discolouration; foxing; top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • ? George Augustus Schultz (active 1734-49) (draughtsman)

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield; countermark: IV

    Mark, stamped: 114

    Condition: two fold lines; an old tear on the centre of the folds was repaired with paper pasted to the verso before being laid down on linen. Verso: induced discolouration; foxing; top left, water-stained patch and shadow from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: not stated. 1:26,000 approx.

    30.1 x 46.6 cm (neatline)

    30.5 x 47.0 cm (image)

    33.6 x 50.7 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    Campement des ALLIEZ comman- / dés par S.A. le Duc de Marlborough. / à Soignie. / [added in a different hand:] Le 26:e de May, 1707. [top centre, in rectangular panel]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Encampment at Soignies 26 May 1707.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 44; [top left, ink, in Schultz's hand?, obscured by linen:] Netherlands 15.; [centre, red pencil:] 44.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Encampment Plan dessiné du Campement des Alliés commandés par le Duc de Marlborough a Soignies, le 26 de May 1707. [The same entry appears under the heading Soignies.]

  • Subject(s)

    Soignies, Walloon Region, Belgium (50°34'44"N 04°04'16"E)