On a card showing the flower market along the banks of the Seine in Paris, dated 1968, comes this stamp commemorating the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle. The Treaty ended the War of Devolution between France and Spain.
I really knew nothing about the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle but I'm glad I looked it up. There is some significance to those of us who collect postcards of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The war of Devolution was fought between France and Spain when France invaded the Spanish Netherlands. Many of the French gains were returned to Spain (including areas we now think off as in France: St Omer, Cambrai) but some were retained. In these places, Vauban set about creating strong fortifications, now protected by World Heritage Site status.
In spite of two brief holidays in those areas, I still haven't managed to find any postcards showing the Fortifications of Vauban.
This is a post for Sunday Stamps, now hosted by Violet Sky at "See it on a Postcard!"
I needed that little history refresher!
ReplyDeleteThankfully, territories aren't changing hands as often as they were back then.
Another part of European history which had passed me by. Lovely postcard.
ReplyDeleteInteresting! Again I learned something new!
ReplyDeleteOh, and happy new year!
DeleteAnother war I hadn't heard of before!
ReplyDeleteI only did the American War of Independence in history at school. Any European history I have picked up for interest. I can add the War of Devolution to that now.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Sheila.
That looks like a lovely flower market. I'd never heard of the war of devolution, fascinating.
ReplyDeleteThe 1600's are a mystery to me! Thank you for participating, and happy new year!
ReplyDelete