Detailed plan of the French army camp near Aalst, Flanders, in 1745

[Camp d'Alost en Flande 1745].

Europe Low Countries
  • Publication date: 1745
  • Physical description: Manuscript plan with original hand-colour, dissected and mounted on linen, title in pencil below plan.
  • Dimensions: 390 by 1040mm. (15.25 by 41 inches)
  • Inventory reference: 2744

Notes

Detailed plan of the French army camp near Aalst, Flanders, in 1745.

Each regiment is named, and colour coded: dragoons red; cavalry blue; and infantry yellow.

Scale: (approx.) 6cm to 1km.

Provenance

From the Library of the Dukes of Luynes.

Charles Louis d’Albert de Luynes (1717-1771) was a French nobleman and member of the House of Albert. He was the fifth Duke of Luynes as well as Duke of Chevreuse.

He took part in the war in 1733 in the War of the Polish Succession. He also took part in campaigns in 1735 and 1745, the latter in the War of the Austrian Succession, and was injured in combat at Sahay at the head of the Dragoons. He participated in the attack of Prague in 1742, and also assisted in various sieges and battles of the era.

In 1754, he was created a Colonel General of the Dragoons. From 1757 to 1771, he was the Gouverneur de Paris (Military governor of Paris), an ancient and prestigious rank representing the king in the capital. He also was created a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit at Versailles on 2 February 1759.

He died in Paris in his Hôtel. He was buried at the Chapelle de Saint Jean l’Évangeliste at the Église Saint-Sulpice, Paris.

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