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Rare miniature view of the Capitulation of Strasbourg.
This engraving depicts the Capitulation of Strasbourg in 1681, during which the city was annexed by Louis XIV of France.
The engraving offers a bird’s-eye view of Strasbourg, a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire, and the surrounding countryside. The French forces, led by Lieutenant-General Joseph de Montclar, are shown surrounding the city, with their well-organized regiments positioned outside its fortifications.
The city itself, with its distinctive architecture including the towering Strasbourg Cathedral, is encircled by the French army, yet the engraving suggests a peaceful occupation. Strasbourg's capitulation was strategic; its Rhine bridge had been a gateway for Holy Roman Empire forces during previous conflicts. On September 30, 1681, Louis XIV's army entered Strasbourg without a fight, and the formal annexation was ratified shortly after by the Marquis de Louvois.
. The War of the Reunions (1683–1684) followed shortly after the annexation and further secured French control of the city, which was later recognized by the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697. The intricate detail of the engraving captures both the military and urban aspects of the city, emphasizing the significance of this bloodless conquest in extending Louis XIV’s power over Alsace.
Rarity
The view is apparently very rare.
We located only the example in the Bibliotheque National de France.
