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 Bouchain, 1711
PLAN of the SIEGE of BOUCHAIN 1711
1711 or laterPencil, pen, ink and watercolour on two sheets of paper, previously joined; laid down on coarse linen; edged with cerise silk ribbon; a brass ring for hanging missing from top left and top right corners; one pink linen tie to top edge | Scale: 1:24,000 | RCIN 726068
The date of 6 August-13 September for the beginning of the siege and the surrender of the fortress is taken from Ostwald (2007), p.343.
This finely executed map shows the detail of the countryside surrounding Bouchain in 1711. Tree-lined roads, villages, windmills, enclosed agricultural areas, marshes and woodland and the road network underlie the detailed depiction of the encampments of both armies, and the lines of circumvallation.
The area covered extends from St Hilaire (Saint-Hilaire-lez Cambrai 50°11'00"N 03°24'46"E) in the south-east. Marlborough's headquarters are marked at Avesnes-le-Sec (50°15'03"N 03°22'39"E), while those of Villars are at Palliencourt (Paillencourt 50°14'48"N 03°16'26"E), about 10 km away.
Additional text: [bottom centre, below title, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, K-M, to the lines of circumvallation, intrenchments, batteries, bridges, redoubts, French fieldworks, the positions of 40 squadrons commanded by General Dopff, 30 battalions and 12 squadrons under the command of General Fagel, and a further 20 battalions commanded by General Withers:] EXPLANATION.
Condition: two fold lines; worn and torn along folds; surface dirt along bottom edge. Verso: induced discolouration; brown spotting; substantial durface dirt along top edge, the pattern of which is consistent with the map having been stored rolled and tied.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Fleur-de-lys in crowned shield, some letters below? Countermark: IV.
Condition: two fold lines; worn and torn along folds; surface dirt along bottom edge. Verso: induced discolouration; brown spotting; substantial durface dirt along top edge, the pattern of which is consistent with the map having been stored rolled and tied
Scale: 1:24,000. Scale bar: Scale 2000 Feet to an Inch [89 mm = ] 7000.
61.8 x 69.4 cm (neatline)
62.3 x 69.9 cm (image)
66.0 x 73.2 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
PLAN of the SIEGE of BOUCHAIN 1711. [bottom centre, in rectangular panel]
Additional text:
[bottom centre, below title, in rectangular panel, a key, A-I, K-M, to the lines of circumvallation, intrenchments, batteries, bridges, redoubts, French fieldworks, the positions of 40 squadrons commanded by General Dopff, 30 battalions and 12 squadrons under the command of General Fagel, and a further 20 battalions commanded by General Withers:] EXPLANATION.
Annotations:
George III heading [top left, black pencil:] Military [bottom right, black pencil:] Bouchain 1711.
Other annotations: (Recto) [bottom left, inside neatline, in the same colour ink as that used on the map:] 28; [top right, black pencil:] 110. (Verso) [top right, on old discoloured paper lable which is pasted over a similar label, ink, in Schultz's or Mason's hand:] II/101; [bottom right, white label with ‘ROYAL LIBRARY’ and crown printed in red with, in blue ball point pen:] VI 68; [bottom right, black pencil, upside down:] 110; [top right, black pencil:] 1711; [left, centre, obscured by linen backing, ink:] Siege de Bouchain 1711.
K. Mil. dummy sheet:
Title [ink:] A drawn Plan of the Siege of Bouchain 1711; 2 sheets / A Roll ..... [pencil:] 5 Table 2.d / [George III heading at foot of sheet.] George III heading: Bouchain 7 August - 14 Sept.r 1711.
Watermark: BUDGEN & WILMOTT / 1810.
Size: 47.0 x 32.7 cm (sheet).George III catalogue entry:
Bouchain A drawn Plan of the Siege of Bouchain in 1711. 2 sheets.
Subject(s)
Bouchain, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°17'06"N 03°18'53"E)
Bibliographic reference(s)
J. Ostwald, Vauban under siege: engineering efficiency and martial vigor in the War of the Spanish Succession, Leiden 2007
