1735 Chaffat City Map or Plan of Strasbourg, France

This is a rare 1735 Antoine du Chaffat city map or plan of Strasbourg, France. The map depicts the city of Strasbourg and the land surrounding the city on the left side of the Rhine River and the Fort and city of Kehl on the right side of the Rhine River. Detailing the construction 'during peacetime,' du Chaffat highlights the installation of Vauban citadels at both Strasbourg and Kehl. These projects were meant to fortify France against another attack from across the Rhine. A title cartouche is in the upper left corner, which also bears a list of sixteen locations that are identified by letters. Trees are depicted in detail, and the various different terrain is depicted, either as cleared land for growing crops or unused fields.

Strasbourg, a Free Imperial City of the Holy Roman Empire, was annexed by France in 1681, following the Thirty Years' War. King Louis XIV of France had gained land in Alsace as part of the treaty ending the Thirty Years' War, but Strasbourg had remained a Free City, or, in other words, independent. The King and his advisors understood that Imperial troops had used a bridge across the Rhine to invade Alsace several times during the previous war, and, apparently using this as an excuse, surrounded Strasbourg and annexed it. The village of Kehl, on the right (now German) side of the river was annexed in 1683.

In the second half of the 17th century, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban was commissioned to upgrade the fortifications of numerous cities in France, the majority of which were along the eastern border, particularly along the Rhine. These new fortifications are detailed on this example. Vauban upgraded the fortifications of about 300 cities, 12 of which are now listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This map was created by Antoine du Chaffat, of the Free Imperial City of Ulm, in 1735 and engraved by Johann Georg Ringlin. It is uncommonly rare.