A very rare plan of the Siege of Castello a Mare, Palermo in 1718

Anonymous.

Pianta di Castello ámare di Palermo Capitale del Regno di Sicilia, Assediato dall'armi Cattoliche a di 4 Luglio 1718, e reso a discretione alli 13 di detto sotto il comando dell'Ecc.mo Sig.re Marchese di Lede Tente Generale per Ferra di sua Majestá Cattolica, e Vicere del Regno du Sicilia.
Italian, c. 1720. 370 x 520mm,

A plan of the assault on Castello a Mare, the fortress guarding the port of Palermo, in July 1718 by the Spanish as part of the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-20). The plan shows both the bastions and the positions of the besieging Spanish artillery bombarding the fort.
The dedication is to Francesco Acquaviva d'Aragona (1665-1725), an Italian Cardinal who served as ambassador of Spain to the Holy See.
Sicily has been a Spanish possession until the end of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, when control was transferred to Savoy. At the end of the War of the Quadruple Alliance Sicily was one of the few territories that changed hands, swopped for the lesser island of Sardinia.
We have been unable to trace another example of this map.


Stock ID : 21895