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

ANONYMOUS

Map of the siege of Lille, 1708 (Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France) 50°37'58"N 03°03'30"E

1708 or later

Pencil, pen, ink and watercolour on paper; gilt edges | Scale: 1:9,000 approx. | RCIN 726007

A map of the siege of Lille by the Allied army commanded by Prince Eugène of Savoy (1663-1736), from 22 August to the surrender of the town on 29 October 1708, and of the siege of the citadel, 29 October to 8 December 1708. War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14). Oriented with south-west to top (compass rose).

This plan is closely similar in detail to the printed map of the siege of Lille, surveyed by Brüchman and published by Fricx in 1709: see RCIN 726006.

This map has been removed from a volume, made about 1719 or later, of manuscript maps and plans of sieges. Other maps, perhaps in a different hand but, apparently from the same volume, are scattered throughout the collection: RCINs [724061], [724090], 725007, 725009, 725011, 725013, 725021, 725023, 725027, 725030, 725032, 725041, [725044], 725045, 725047, [725055], 725074, 725087, 725098, 726014, 726022, 726041, 726045, 726053, 726065, 726073, 726080, 726086, 726090, 727004, 727007, 727011, 727013, 727014.

Additional text: [bottom left, below title, a key A-I, K-S to the named gates of Lille, sluice, dikes, redoubt and the different attacks or parallels.]

Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; remains of guard; some foxing.
  • Anonymous (cartographer)

    Subject(s)

    Army-Allied army (War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
  • Watermark: Strasburg lily in crowned shield, a ‘4’ suspending the letters WR below; countermark: IV

    Mark, stamped: 120

    Condition: one fold line. Verso: induced discolouration; remains of guard; some foxing

  • Scale: 1:9,000 approx. Scale bar: Eschelle [sic] de 400 Toises [87 mm =].

    43.9 x 55.4 cm (image and neatline)

    52.8 x 73.8 cm (sheet)

  • Manuscript title:

    PLAN DE LA VILLE / ET CITADELLE / DE LILLE. [bottom left, in rectangular panel]

    Additional text:

    [bottom left, below title, a key A-I, K-S to the named gates of Lille, sluice, dikes, redoubt and the different attacks or parallels.]

    Annotations:

    George III heading: Lille 13 Aug.t - 22 Oct.r 1708.

    Other annotations: (Recto) [top right, ink:] 92. (Verso) [top right, red pencil:] 1708; [top right, ink:] 92; [bottom right of centre, red pencil:] 5/18; [bottom right of centre, black pencil:] VI/18-a.

    George III catalogue entry:

    Lille Plan dessiné de la Ville et Citadelle de Lille avec les Attaques de 1708.

  • Subject(s)

    Lille, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France (50°37'58"N 03°03'30"E)