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

JAN VAN VIANEN (1660-1726)

Map of the Battle of Blenheim and Höchstädt, 1704 (Blindheim, Bavaria, Germany) 48°37'53"N 10°37'11"E; (Höchstädt an der Donau, Bavaria, Germany) 48°36'40"N 10°34'05"E

1704 or later

Etching and engraving; printed from two copperplates on two sheets of paper, each mounted on linen | Scale: 1:14,000 approx. | RCIN 725040.b

A map of the Battle of Blenheim fought on 13 August 1704 between the Allies (England, Holy Roman Empire, Dutch Republic and Denmark-Norway), commanded by General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) and Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), and France and the Electorate of Bavaria, commanded by Marshal Camill d'Hostun de la Baume, duc de Tallard (1652-1728), resulting in an Allied victory. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with south-west to top.

The map extends approximately from Dona Alte (Donaualtheim 48°35'37"N 10°29'12"E) in the north-west to Lawingen (Lauingen 48°34'03"N 10°25'37"E) in the south-west, and from Daltheim (Thalheim 48°43'48"N 10°32'59"E) in the north-east to Pfaffenhoven (Pfaffenhofen ad Zusam 48°36'38"N 10°42'39"E) in the south-east.

Additional text: [top right of RCIN 725040.b, in a cartouche representing a stone plinth, surmounted by the arms of Queen Anne over which an angel holds a circlet in the shape of a serpent holding its tail in its mouth, a unicorn representing England, old Father Time, and the Dutch lion with its paw on the coat of arms of vanquished France:] SUB AUSPICIIS . ANNÆ REGINÆ et BELGII FŒDERATI ...

A facsimile of this map (but not this example) was published by Oxford Cartographers in 1999. Another example is illustrated in De Agostini (2001) p.129. BL example at *28620.(6.). An example printed on silk is in the Museum of London, call mark 54.69/3.

Condition: one fold line; three small tears to left edge; small piece of bottom left corner missing; stud holes along left and right margins; small pin holes over face of map; surface dirt; some brown discolouration. Verso: heavy surface dirt; foxing.
  • Jan van Vianen (1660-1726) (engraver) [bottom left, below edge of border:] J. van Vianen fecit.

    Reinier Leers (1654-1714) (publisher) [bottom right, below edge of border:] Reynerus Leers Excudit.

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
    Army-Bavarian
    Army-France
  • Watermark: A five-point star

    Condition: one fold line; three small tears to left edge; small piece of bottom left corner missing; stud holes along left and right margins; small pin holes over face of map; surface dirt; some brown discolouration. Verso: heavy surface dirt; foxing

  • Scale: 1:14,000 approx. Scale bar: A Scale of 800 Geometrical Paces [88 mm =].

    63.3 x 89.7 cm (neatline)

    63.6 x 90.8 cm (image)

    [top and bottom cropped] x 91.4 cm (platemark)

    64.4 x 91.7 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    A PLAN / of the Famous VICTORY at BLEINEM, / obtained by his Grace the Duke of / MARLBOROUGH / over the Elector of Bavaria and the / Marechals TALLARD and MARCIN, / the 13th August, 1704 S.N. [bottom left of bottom part of map (RCIN 725040.a)]

    Additional text:

    [top right of RCIN 725040.b, in a cartouche representing a stone plinth, surmounted by the arms of Queen Anne over which an angel holds a circlet in the shape of a serpent holding its tail in its mouth, a unicorn representing England, old Father Time, and the Dutch lion with its paw on the coat of arms of vanquished France:] SUB AUSPICIIS . ANNÆ REGINÆ et BELGII FŒDERATI ...

    Annotations:

    George III heading: none.

    Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, red pencil:] 13 of August 1704; [top, right of centre, ink:] Blenheim; [below ‘Blenheim’, blue biro and black pencil on red-printed 1980s Royal Library label:] V 40-2 [and, black pencil in a modern hand:] V/40-2 CMB Oct 86 [i.e. 1986]; [bottom, right of centre, black pencil:] V/41-2.

    K. Mil. dummy sheet:

    Title [ink:] A Plan of the famous Victory of Bleinem, obtained by the Duke of Marlborough over the / Elector of Bavaria and Marshals Tallard and Marcin the 13.th August 1704. by J. van Vianen 2 sheets / A Roll ... [no pencil pressmark]. [Old heading, red ink:] Battle of Blenheim 13 August 1704. 
    Watermark: J WHATMAN / 1811. 
    Size: 47.1 x 32.8 cm (sheet).

    George III catalogue entry:

    Blenheim A Plan of the famous Victory of Bleinem, obtained by the Duke of Marlborough over the Elector of Bavaria and Marshals Tallard and Marcin, the 13.th August 1704: by I. van Vianen. 2 sheets.

  • Subject(s)

    Blindheim, Bavaria, Germany (48°37'53"N 10°37'11"E)

    Höchstädt an der Donau, Bavaria, Germany (48°36'40"N 10°34'05"E)