Author: BREDEVOORT - ENGRAVED PLAN,
Title: [A mid-eighteenth engraved plan of Bredevoort fortifications].
Description: S.L., s.n., s.d., [circa], 1750. An original engraved plan of the fortified medieval City of Bredevoort. Sized 44x34cm., under passepartout. With some small illustrations of people and animals at surroundings of the fortifications, small illustration of the castle within the fortification. Bredevoort, or Breveoort in local dialect is a small fortified city in the district De Achterhoek, Gelderland province, near the dutch-german border. For the first time mentioned in archivalia in 1188 AD., Bredevoort became gradually an important stronghold with a dominating castle on a very strategic point in the region. The city was under siege for a number of times. Finally Bredevoort was conquered in 1597 by the then Commander0in-Chief and Prince of Orange-Nassau Maurits, during the 80-years war against Spain. In 1646 a bold of lightning struck the gunpowder magazine and thewhola castle was blown-up, killing some people, incl. the bailiff and his family inhabiting the castle, except their eldest son, absent during the explosion. A nice plan in good condition. Remnants of the moat and fortifications are still present nowadays. (some light wear to tail of centre-fold of map, a three-digit [library] nmber in ink in blank space at upper right corner of plan, not disturbing however).

Keywords: bredevoort brevoort fortification stronghold plan vestingplan history engraving topography gelderland gelre gelriae achterhoek history