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

GEORGE LOUIS LE ROUGE (1707-93/4)

Map of the siege of Ath, 1706 (Ath, Walloon Region, Belgium) 50°37'45"N 03°46'40"E

published 1745

Etching and engraving; printed on paper | Scale: 1:22,000 approx. | RCIN 725086

A map of the siege of Ath by the Allied army, commanded by Henry, Count of Nassau, Lord of Overkirk [Hendrik van Nassau, Heer van Ouderkerk (1640-1708)], from 20 September to the surrender of the French garrison on 2 October 1706. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with north-north-west to top (cardinal points).

The perimeter of the map is marked by numerous estates (‘censes’), and the line of circumvallation passes through or near the following settlements Maffle (50°37'04"N 03°48'11"E), Arbre (50°36'37"N 03°48'54"E), Tongre S.t Martin (Tongre-Saint-Martin 50°35'11"N 03°47'25"E), Vilé St Aimant (Villers-Saint-Amand 50°37'21"N 03°43'53"E), Boveny (Bouvignies 50°38'46"N 03°45'56"E), Herbaix (Rebaix 50°39'35"N 03°46'59"E).

The Allied army, commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-60), camped at Ath in May 1745, during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-48). This map was probably published following the French attacks of 1745, after their success at the Battle of Fontenoy, and perhaps acquired by Cumberland soon after publication.

Additional text: [top left, above imprint, in rectangular panel:] ATH Place forte dans le Comté de / Hainaut a 50. deg. 25. min. de Latitude / et 21. degrez 29. min. de Longitude / sur la Riviere de Dendre. [bottom right, below title, a key, a-i, k-u, x to the names of the bastions and demi-lunes, gates of the town, advanced siegeworks and the old castle:] Renvoy.

Condition: one fold line; trimmed. Verso: surface dirt along left edge; top left, water-stained patch, shadow and fragments from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label.
  • George Louis le Rouge (1707-93/4) (cartographer)

    Le Rouge: Rue des Grands Augustins, Paris (George Louis le Rouge (1707-93/4)) (publisher) [top left, in rectangular panel:] APARIS / Par et chez le Sr. LE ROUGE Ingenieur Geog. / du ROY rue des Gd.s Augustins vis-a vis le / Panier fleury 1745

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • Watermark: Indistinct: two rows of words in a rounded rectangular frame

    Condition: one fold line; trimmed. Verso: surface dirt along left edge; top left, water-stained patch, shadow and fragments from the removal of Cumberland's cipher label

  • Scale: 1:22,000 approx. Scale bar: Echelle [107 mm =] 1200 Toises

    30.0 x 45.1 cm (neatline)

    30.5 x 45.7 cm (image)

    32.3 x 47.8 cm (platemark)

    35.2 x 52.5 cm (sheet)

  • Printed title:

    PLAN D'ATH / Avec les Attaques et le Blocus des / Allies / du deux d’Octobre 1706. [bottom right, in rectangular panel]

    Additional text:

    [top left, above imprint, in rectangular panel:] ATH Place forte dans le Comté de / Hainaut a 50. deg. 25. min. de Latitude / et 21. degrez 29. min. de Longitude / sur la Riviere de Dendre. [bottom right, below title, a key, a-i, k-u, x to the names of the bastions and demi-lunes, gates of the town, advanced siegeworks and the old castle:] Renvoy.

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Ath 20 Sept.r - 2 Oct. 1706.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [erased, indistinct:] [?] 54.. (Verso) [bottom left, black pencil:] 41; [top right, black pencil:] LIV.; [centre, red pencil:] 41.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Ath Plan d'Ath, avec les attaques et le Blocus des Alliés du 2 d'Oct.re 1706: par le S.r le Rouge, 1745. 

  • Subject(s)

    Ath, Walloon Region, Belgium (50°37'45"N 03°46'40"E)