Tavernier, Melchior
Extremely rare broadside plan of the Siege of Royan, an important military engagement in the French Wars of Religion during the early reign of Louis XIII. The Protestant-held city of Royan, a key Huguenot stronghold on the Atlantic coast, was besieged and captured by royal forces in 1622 under the command of Charles de La Vieuville, marking a critical moment in Louis XIII’s efforts to assert Catholic royal authority over the rebellious Huguenot communities.
641 x 596 mm. Crease marks from folding, old folds flattened, else fine.
The production of siege engravings in the 1620s often depended on field drawings executed by military engineers, which were then transformed into printed plans. Claude Chastillon under Henri IV had already established this model for converting upon on-site surveys commissioned by the crown into printed broadsides. The present example was likely based upon a survey by "RD" whose initials appear on one of Tavernier's other battle plans from this period.
This intricately detailed engraving presents a bird’s-eye perspective of the city’s formidable star-shaped fortifications and its surrounding landscape, including the positions of military encampments, artillery placements, and key locations involved in the battle. The letterpress below provides an extensive key, identifying strategic points such as the old and new fortifications, trenches, bastions, and the final movements that led to the city’s surrender.
Engraved by Melchior Tavernier, this broadside was published under the authority of Nicolas de Bailly, historiographer to the king. Tavernier, a prominent engraver and print dealer, played a significant role in disseminating royal propaganda through printed maps and battle plans. The present example, issued just days after the fall of Royan ("...fait ce 21. May 1622."), underscores the immediacy of printed news during the period.
Rarity: the plan is extremely rare, we note only a variant edition with a different imprint (adding et chez Nicolas de Mathonière, rue Mont-Orgueil, à la Corne de Daim) at the Bibliotheque National de France.
Join our mailing list
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied to communicate with you in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.