late 17th- early 18th century.
A detailed manuscript map of the 1692 siege of Namur showing the camps north of the fortified city, from Gembloux to the forest of Marche les Dames.
The Siege of Namur was one of the great battles of the Nine Years War that opposed King Louis XIV of France and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance. The city of Namur, now located in Belgium, was a highly strategic asset because of its impressive fortress as well as its position on the confluence of the Meuse and the Sambre. The French forces led by Vauban, the renowned military engineer, launched their siege on 25 May. Louis XIV came in person to oversee the siege and support his troops. However the citadel managed to hold for 36 days, thanks to the commandment of Menno von Coehoorn. Three years later, Namur was retaken from the French by the allied forces of the Grand Alliance.
The present map is a precious testimony to this historic battle. It depicts military positions around Namur in great detail, notably the troops of "the Prince of Orange", that is, King William III of England. Also mentioned are all the woods, castles, towns and points of interest in the area. In addition to this geographical precision, the map is very nicely coloured as the woods appear in green, the military camps in red and turquoise, the rivers in light grey and the important information in brown and black ink.
Relying on the ink inscription below the cartouche, this map can be attributed to Du Vivier or a close follower. Du Vivier was the cartographer and engineer of the Duke of Maine, one of Louis XIV's illegitimate children. Duval's widow published in the late 17th century a map made by Du Vivier of, precisely, the whole of Namur's county.
Manuscript map in black ink with details in brown ink, forests and military positions in colour, signed in the lower right corner "par du Vivier", 33,7 x 48,4 cm, mounted on canvas (little wholes in canvas, small dampstains), folds, small handwritten inscription at the back dated 1794.
The Siege of Namur was one of the great battles of the Nine Years War that opposed King Louis XIV of France and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance. The city of Namur, now located in Belgium, was a highly strategic asset because of its impressive fortress as well as its position on the confluence of the Meuse and the Sambre. The French forces led by Vauban, the renowned military engineer, launched their siege on 25 May. Louis XIV came in person to oversee the siege and support his troops. However the citadel managed to hold for 36 days, thanks to the commandment of Menno von Coehoorn. Three years later, Namur was retaken from the French by the allied forces of the Grand Alliance.
The present map is a precious testimony to this historic battle. It depicts military positions around Namur in great detail, notably the troops of "the Prince of Orange", that is, King William III of England. Also mentioned are all the woods, castles, towns and points of interest in the area. In addition to this geographical precision, the map is very nicely coloured as the woods appear in green, the military camps in red and turquoise, the rivers in light grey and the important information in brown and black ink.
Relying on the ink inscription below the cartouche, this map can be attributed to Du Vivier or a close follower. Du Vivier was the cartographer and engineer of the Duke of Maine, one of Louis XIV's illegitimate children. Duval's widow published in the late 17th century a map made by Du Vivier of, precisely, the whole of Namur's county.
Manuscript map in black ink with details in brown ink, forests and military positions in colour, signed in the lower right corner "par du Vivier", 33,7 x 48,4 cm, mounted on canvas (little wholes in canvas, small dampstains), folds, small handwritten inscription at the back dated 1794.
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