This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

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)

Map of the siege of Aire, 1710 (Aire-sur-la-Lys, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°38'19"N 02°23'55"E

1710 or later

Etching and engraving; printed on paper; laid down on coarse linen | Scale: 1:6,400 approx. | RCIN 726061

A map of the siege of Aire, 6 September-9 November 1710, by the Allied army, commanded by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), resulting in the surrender of the fortress by the French. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with north-north-west to top (compass rose).

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.

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • 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