War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)
Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands
Rhine, Fort-Louis and Bühl, 1707
dated 1707Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour; drawn on nine pieces of paper, joined; laid down on linen; edged with cerise silk ribbon; two pink linen ties to left edge; one brass ring for hanging missing from each of the top corners | Scale: 1:14,000 approx. | RCIN 725091
The landscape of 1707, represented here, is very different today owing to the canalisation of the Rhine. Naturalistic colouring is used to distinguish river flood plains from surrounding agricultural land and woodland.
Jean-Baptiste Regemorte, who appears to be the draughtsman of this map, was initially a general contractor at Neuf-Brisach who became an ingénieur géographe with the French army, serving with distinction in the War of the Spanish Succession in Alsace.
The lines pass through or near the following settlements: Higelsheim (Hügelsheim 48°48'00"N 08°07'00"E), Dalhund (Dalhunden, Alsace, France 48°46'29"N 07°59'27"E), Selingen (48°46'42"N 08°03'26"E), Isle de Drusenheim (Drusenheim, Alsace, France 48°45'51"N 07°57'01"E), Lerberstung (Lieberstung, 48°45'09"N 08°05'53"E), Finbich (Vimbuch 48°43'16"N 08°06'46"E).
Additional text: [top left, in rectangular panels, a key, 1-77:] Remarques [continued bottom left, in rectangular panels, 78-121, giving an extensive description of the fieldworks followed by:] Tous les Ouvrages des Ennemis [and] Disposition des Attaques.
For further reading, see:
J. Langins, Conserving the enlightenment: French military engineering from Vauban to the Revolution, Cambridge, Mass., 2004, p.90.
Condition: four fold lines; right part considerably damaged, repaired before being laid down on linen. Verso: brown staining; heavy surface dirt along right edge, consistent with being stored as a rolled and tied map.
[Jean-Baptiste] Regemorte (active 1707) (draughtsman) [bottom centre, at end of text:] fait a Werttembourg ce 7bre 1707 / Regemorte.
Watermark: An animal [swan or lion?], the letter B below; countermark: T [indistinct device] D
Condition: four fold lines; right part considerably damaged, repaired before being laid down on linen. Verso: brown staining; heavy surface dirt along right edge, consistent with being stored as a rolled and tied map
Scale: 1:14,000 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de mil toises [143 mm =].
80.5 x 116.3 cm (image and sheet)
Printed title:
No title
Additional text:
[top left, in rectangular panels, a key, 1-77:] Remarques [continued bottom left, in rectangular panels, 78-121, giving an extensive description of the fieldworks followed by:] Tous les Ouvrages des Ennemis [and] Disposition des Attaques.
Annotations:
George III heading: [bottom right, black pencil:] Rhine 1707.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom left, black pencil:] V/91 Military; [top right, black pencil:] 23 May 1707. (Verso) [bottom, left of centre, blue biro on 1980s red-printed Royal Library label:] V/91; [bottom left, black pencil, in Schultz or Mason's hand:] Fort Louis 1707; [bottom right, black pencil, in Schultz or Mason's hand:] Rhine 1707; [bottom right, on top of black pencil inscriptions, ink on torn contemporary label:] III/19; [top, left of centre, obscured by linen backing:] Rurcau leure h no 1358; [top centre, black pencil, obscured by linen backing:] 25 - B / 5 – 72; [bottom left on paper strip, black pencil, obscured by linen backing: illegible].
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
[Title, ink:] Plan dessiné des Lignes de l'Armée Imperiale depuis la Vallée de Neisetz jusquesaux [written as one word] Bords du / Rhin près du Fort Louis, et dont le Marechal de Villars se rendit maitre le 23.e de May 1707: par le S.r / Regemorte Ing.re 1707 / A Roll ...... [black pencil:] 5 Table 2.d / [red ink:] Lines on the Rhine forced 23 May 1707 [followed by an erased and illegible black pencil inscription, in a modern hand] no title.
Watermark: fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, the entwined letters B&W below.
Size: 47.0 x 32.7 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Rhine Plan dessiné des Lignes de l'Armée Imperiale depuis la Vallée de Neisetz jusques aux bords du Rhin pres du Fort Louis, et dont le Marechal de Villars se rendit maitre le 23 de May 1707: par le S.r Regemorte Ing.r 1707. [The same entry appears under the heading Lines.]
Subject(s)
Fort-Louis, Alsace, France (48°48'02"N 08°03'22"E)
Bühl, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (48°41'48"N 08°08'06"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J. Langins, Conserving the enlightenment: French military engineering from Vauban to the Revolution, Cambridge, Mass. 2004, p. 90
