NAPOLEON, INVASION MAP, BOULOGNE. Plan de Boulogne, des ses Environs et des Côtes depuis Ningle jusqu'au Wimeraux, leve en l'An 12 Genie Militaire, Direction d' Arras, Place de Boulogne , [1803-1804]. Folding manuscript military map of Boulogne-sur-Mer and its surrounding area, oriented to the east, the coast extending from the port of Wimeraux down to Ningle, showing fortifications and defences of the Napoleonic forces, black ink and watercolour on paper, the map dissected into 28 sections laid down on linen, overall 920 x 1030mm, scale-bar. (Occasional light spotting or minor surface abrasion.) Provenance : printed label of Charles Picquet, Geographer to the King and Duc d'Orleans (1771-1827). An important and fascinating map of the district of Boulogne showing the massive defences developed along the coast during Napoleon's preparations for 'La grande expedition', the planned invasion of England. The French coast from Calais to the bay of Authie was so heavily fortified that it was known as 'la côte de fer'. The map was drawn up following the massive programme of shipbuilding and strengthening of fortifications which took place after the Treaty of Amiens ended. The coast from the mouth of the Scheldt to the Somme was placed under the single command of General Bruix, the commander of Boulogne. Plans for the invasion centred on Boulogne, where the Grande Armée had excavated the circular naval basin during the Directory, to hold the fleet at anchor. Up to 50 batteries, equipped with mortars and howitzers (obusiers) covered the coastline. Two sea-towers, visible on the map, had been constructed in May 1803 to aid protection of shipping in the sea-roads of Saint-Hean. Work on the Fort-en-Bois, or Fort de l'Expedition, which is shown clearly on the map in the sea before the entrance to the port, had begun in August. It is likely therefore that the map was drawn up for one of Napoleon's Marshals, before the Emperor's visit in July the following year. Also visible on the map are Napoleon's headquarters at Pont des Briques. In September a decree was issued to Bruix for the formation of 7 flotillas, each of 108 vessels, for the invasion, two assembling at Etaples, two to the left of Boulogne and two to the right, with the seventh to be at Wimereux, an artificial port, as reserve. Five marshals including Ney were to joint this invasion fleet of 756 vessels and embarking and disembarking was incessantly practised by the army. Napoleon calculated it would take 15 days to move his force of 150,000 men to the Thames and this could only be achieved by luring the English fleet away from the Channel. The ensuing pursuits of the French and English fleets in the Mediterranean and the northern Atlantic, resulting in the Battle of Trafalgar, put paid to his invasion plans. This map must be one of the few surviving invasion maps of England ever prepared. By 1811 the encampments of the coast at Boulogne were dismantled.
NAPOLEON, INVASION MAP, BOULOGNE. Plan de Boulogne, des ses Environs et des Côtes depuis Ningle jusqu'au Wimeraux, leve en l'An 12 Genie Militaire, Direction d' Arras, Place de Boulogne , [1803-1804]. Folding manuscript military map of Boulogne-sur-Mer and its surrounding area, oriented to the east, the coast extending from the port of Wimeraux down to Ningle, showing fortifications and defences of the Napoleonic forces, black ink and watercolour on paper, the map dissected into 28 sections laid down on linen, overall 920 x 1030mm, scale-bar. (Occasional light spotting or minor surface abrasion.) Provenance : printed label of Charles Picquet, Geographer to the King and Duc d'Orleans (1771-1827). An important and fascinating map of the district of Boulogne showing the massive defences developed along the coast during Napoleon's preparations for 'La grande expedition', the planned invasion of England. The French coast from Calais to the bay of Authie was so heavily fortified that it was known as 'la côte de fer'. The map was drawn up following the massive programme of shipbuilding and strengthening of fortifications which took place after the Treaty of Amiens ended. The coast from the mouth of the Scheldt to the Somme was placed under the single command of General Bruix, the commander of Boulogne. Plans for the invasion centred on Boulogne, where the Grande Armée had excavated the circular naval basin during the Directory, to hold the fleet at anchor. Up to 50 batteries, equipped with mortars and howitzers (obusiers) covered the coastline. Two sea-towers, visible on the map, had been constructed in May 1803 to aid protection of shipping in the sea-roads of Saint-Hean. Work on the Fort-en-Bois, or Fort de l'Expedition, which is shown clearly on the map in the sea before the entrance to the port, had begun in August. It is likely therefore that the map was drawn up for one of Napoleon's Marshals, before the Emperor's visit in July the following year. Also visible on the map are Napoleon's headquarters at Pont des Briques. In September a decree was issued to Bruix for the formation of 7 flotillas, each of 108 vessels, for the invasion, two assembling at Etaples, two to the left of Boulogne and two to the right, with the seventh to be at Wimereux, an artificial port, as reserve. Five marshals including Ney were to joint this invasion fleet of 756 vessels and embarking and disembarking was incessantly practised by the army. Napoleon calculated it would take 15 days to move his force of 150,000 men to the Thames and this could only be achieved by luring the English fleet away from the Channel. The ensuing pursuits of the French and English fleets in the Mediterranean and the northern Atlantic, resulting in the Battle of Trafalgar, put paid to his invasion plans. This map must be one of the few surviving invasion maps of England ever prepared. By 1811 the encampments of the coast at Boulogne were dismantled.
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