War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14)
Sieges, marches, encampments and famous battles from 1701 to 1712 in Germany, Italy and the Netherlands
Siege of Aire, 1710
PLAN / DE LA VILLE D'AIR / et du FORT S.t FRANCOIS / Et de ses trois Attaques dans l'estat qu'Elle estoit quand / Elle fut Assiegée par les Hauts Alliés sous le Commandement / de S.A.S. Monseig: le Prince d'Anhalt Dessau...
published 1711Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: 1:6,200 approx. | RCIN 726060
The date of 9 November for the surrender of the fortress is taken from Ostwald (2007), p.343.
Jean Henri Weber, the surveyor of this map was an engineer in the service of Charles I (1654-1730), Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1670 until 1730 who rented his army to others during the War of the Spanish Succession.
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 only the detail of the fortified walls with the attack parallels, zig-zags and batteries, and the immediate surroundings.
Additional text: [bottom right, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, K-P, to the different attacks, redoubt, lines, and other salient features such as canals and ditches:] RENVOY.
Condition: one fold line. Verso: bottom, right of centre, water-stained patch, shadow and gosting from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
Eugène Henri Fricx (January 1644-18 December 1730) (publisher) [bottom left, inside neatline:] A Bruxelles Chez Eugene Henri Fricx, Ruë de la Madeleine, 1711. (publisher) [bottom left, inside neatline:] A Bruxelles Chez Eugene Henri Fricx, Ruë de la Madeleine, 1711.
Jean Henri Weber (active 1710-11) (surveyor and ndraughtsman) [bottom left, following on from title, in title cartouche:] Levé et dessiné par F: [i.e. J] H: Weber Capitaine et Ingenieur de S.A.S. Mons: / le Land Grave de Hesse-Cassel.
Pieter Devel (active 1710-11) (engraver) [bottom left, inside neatline:] P. Devel. fecit.
Watermark: None
Condition: one fold line. Verso: bottom, right of centre, water-stained patch, shadow and gosting from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label
Scale: 1:6,200 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de 300 Toises [94 mm = ].
42.1 x 58.0 cm (neatline)
42.7 x 58.7 cm (image)
43.7 x 59.8 cm (platemark)
50.7 x 63.4 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PLAN / DE LA VILLE D'AIR / et du FORT S.t FRANCOIS / Et de ses trois Attaques dans l'estat qu'Elle estoit quand / Elle fut Assiegée par les Hauts Alliés sous le Commandement / de S.A.S. Monseig: le Prince d'Anhalt Dessau l'an 1710. / aÿant été investie le 6.me du mois de Sept: et prise par / accord le 8.me Novemb: á 6 heures du soir. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]
Additional text:
[bottom right, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, K-P, to the different attacks, redoubt, lines, and other salient features such as canals and ditches:] RENVOY.
Annotations:
George III heading: Aire 6 Sept.r - 8 Nov.r 1710.
Other anotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top right, ink:] D.a Netherlands 8 [the ‘a’ and ‘8’ have been scraped out]; [top right, black pencil:] 16; [top right, black pencil:] 103.; [right centre, red pencil:] 96.
George III catalogue entry:
Aire Plan de la Ville d'Aire et du Fort S.t François, avec les trois attaques des Alliés en 1710, par le Cap.t Weber Ing.r chez Friex, 1711.
Subject(s)
Aire-sur-la-Lys, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°38'19"N 02°23'55"E)
