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'AIRE / et du Fort St François
1710 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: 1:6,400 approx. | RCIN 726061
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.
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
