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War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)

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

PIERRE HUSSON (1678-1733)

Map of the siege of Aire, 1710 (Aire-sur-la-Lys, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°38'19"N 02°23'55"E

1710 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: 1:6,400 approx. | RCIN 726061

A map of the siege of Aire, 6 September-9 November 1710, by the Allied army, commanded by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), resulting in the surrender of the fortress by the French. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with north-north-west to top (compass rose).

The date of 9 November for the surrender of the fortress is taken from Ostwald (2007), p.343.

Other commanders included Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle (1670-1718) and Leopold I, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau (1676-1747), who commanded the Prussian troops.

This large-scale map shows the detail of the fortified walls with the attack parallels, zig-zags and batteries, and the immediate surroundings.

Additional text: [top left, following on from title:] Ville Forte du Comte d'Artois situee sur la / Lis a trois Lieues de S. Omer a trois et demy de / Bethune a huit de Hedin a dix d Arras et a unze de Lille Il y a Bailliage, sitte Ville fut Assiegees par les Troupes des Hauts Allieez le 12 Sep.t 1710 / Comman.s par S.A. Le Prin:ce Anhalt desou; [bottom right, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, L-S, to the religous buildings in the town, and to the locations of named bastions:] EXPLICATION DES LETTRES / Contenues dans le Plan.

Condition: one fold line; trimmed after being laid down in linen; top, right of centre, two small holes. Verso: bottom centre, large water-stained patch from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • Pierre Husson (1678-1733) (publisher) [bottom right, inside neatline:] A LA HAYE Chez Pierre Husson.

    B van Zijl (active 1708-15) (engraver) [top left, bottom right of title panel:] B: V: Zyl, fec.

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • Watermark: None

    Condition: one fold line; trimmed after being laid down in linen; top, right of centre, two small holes. Verso: bottom centre, large water-stained patch from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: 1:6,400 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de deux Cent Toisses [61 mm =].

    37.6 x 47.9 cm (neatline)

    38.2 x 48.7 cm (image)

    39.4 cm x ? [lateral platemark trimmed]

    40.6 x 49.5 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    PLAN DE LA / VILLE D'AIRE / et du Fort St François. [top left, in rectangular panel]

    Additional text:

    [top left, following on from title:] Ville Forte du Comte d'Artois situee sur la / Lis a trois Lieues de S. Omer a trois et demy de / Bethune a huit de Hedin a dix d Arras et a unze de Lille Il y a Bailliage, sitte Ville fut Assiegees par les Troupes des Hauts Allieez le 12 Sep.t 1710 / Comman.s par S.A. Le Prin:ce Anhalt desou; [bottom right, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, L-S, to the religous buildings in the town, and to the locations of named bastions:] EXPLICATION DES LETTRES / Contenues dans le Plan.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Aire 6 Sept.r - 8 Nov.r 1710.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, black pencil:] 106. (Verso) [top, left of centre, ink, obscured by linen backing:] 32.; [top right, black pencil:] 106; [top right, black pencil, obscured by linen backing:] C.; [bottom, left of centre, black pencil:] 99; [right centre, red pencil:] 99; [bottom, left of centre, black pencil, obscured by linen backing, partly legible:] [?] Sept. 1710.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Aire Plan de la Ville d'Aire et du Fort S.t François, avec les attaques des Alliés en 1710; chez Husson.

  • Subject(s)

    Aire-sur-la-Lys, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°38'19"N 02°23'55"E)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

    J. Ostwald, Vauban under siege: engineering efficiency and martial vigor in the War of the Spanish Succession, Leiden 2007