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Very large and beautiful manuscript plan of Toulon, entirely manuscript. This plan signed by Caporal Girard and dated 1897.
The plan shows all the positions of all large batteries of cannons directed outward to protect from any invasion by the sea. This unique plan very detailed was hand drawn by a French Navy officer whom most likely was based in Toulon Arsenal. The plan also shows all elevations and mounts as well as the city of Toulon and other local cities and all railways.
Toulon
After 1481, with the annexation of Provence by the French, Toulon became an important military seaport.
King Louis XII in 1514 started the first fortification and under the reign of Louis XIV, with the famous engineer Marquis de Vauban developing major fortifications improvements as well installations of cannons, and protection from any possible sea attacks. During the centuries the "Rade de Toulon" or Bay of Toulon was attacked several times. At the beginning of the 19th century the arsenal of Toulon started to build military ships, including corsairs, cruisers and the first iron cast navy ships.
From 1877 onwards French navy engineers started the final development and improvement Toulon's fortifications, as well as the enlargement and construction of a large jetty, in order to the naval port of Toulon to host large ships, as well as the first ever built submarines in France. This plan could possibly be part of a series of plans that permitted these improvements and could have possibly been displayed in the navy offices due to his large size and details as well as the signature.
![Portraict de la Rochelle et des Forteresses q[ue] les Rebelles y ont faict, depuis les p[re]miers troubles iusque à p[rése]nt, 1573](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/80480.jpg)
![[Perpignan]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/75063.jpg)
