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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)

Siege of Béthune, 1710

PLAN DE BETHUNE / Ville Forte du Comte d'Artois situe sur la / Pitite Riviere de Lave a huit lieues de Lille, Huit / de Douay six et demye d'Arras et quatre d'Aire

1710 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: 1:4,100 approx. | RCIN 726055

A plan of the siege of Béthune, 15 July-23 August 1710, by the Allied army, commanded by Baron Francis Nicolaas von Fagel (1645-1718), and Johann Matthias von der Schulenberg (1661-1747), resulting in the surrender of the French. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with north to top (compass rose).

The date of 23 August for the capitulation of the fortress is taken from Ostwald (2007), p.343.

This large-scale plan shows only the town layout and the immediate surroundings of the fortifications with the two attacks by Fagel and Schulenberg, carried on by the Dutch engineers Christiaan Frederik Hertel, and Bruijn.

Additional text: [bottom right, below title, in title panel, a key, A-F, to the locations of named bastions:] Explication.

Condition: four fold lines. Verso: remains of guard along central fold; paper has been pasted to the right edge of verso; bottom centre, water-stained patch, shadow and ghosting from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • Pierre Husson (1678-1733) (publisher) [bottom right, following on from title, in title panel: A LA HAYE Chez Pierre Husson.

    B van Zijl (active 1708-15) (engraver) [bottom right, inside neatline:] B:V: Zyl fec.

  • Watermark: None

    Condition: four fold lines. Verso: remains of guard along central fold; paper has been pasted to the right edge of verso; bottom centre, water-stained patch, shadow and ghosting from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: 1:4,100 approx. Scale bar: Echelle de Cent Toises [47 mm = 100]. 

    37.8 x 48.5 cm (neatline)

    38.5 x 49.3 cm (image)

    39.3 x 50.0 cm (platemark)

    41.2 x 50.5 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    PLAN DE BETHUNE / Ville Forte du Comte d'Artois situe sur la / Pitite Riviere de Lave a huit lieues de Lille, Huit / de Douay six et demye d'Arras et quatre d'Aire. [bottom right, in rectangular panel]

    Additional text:

    [bottom right, below title, in title panel, a key, A-F, to the locations of named bastions:] Explication.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Bethune 15 July - 28 August 1710.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top left, black pencil:] 99. (Verso) [top, left of centre, ink, crossed out in black pencil:] 33.; [top right, black pencil:] 99; [bottom, left of centre, black pencil:] 90; [right centre, red pencil:] 90.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Bethune Plan de la Ville de Bethune avec les attaques des Alliés en 1710: chez Husson.

  • Subject(s)

    Béthune, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°32'00"N 02°38'00"E)

  • Bibliographic reference(s)

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