Introducing the 'Ducatus Brunsvicensis fereque Lunaeburgensis cum adiacentibus episcopatibus, comitatibus et dominatibus', a magnificent cartographic representation of Brunswick and Lüneburg, crafted by the esteemed Nicolaes Visscher II in 1690. This title, when translated to English, signifies 'The Duchy of Brunswick and nearly Lüneburg with the adjacent bishoprics, counties, and dominions'. This map encapsulates the intricate political divisions and regions of what is now a part of modern-day Germany.
The focal point of this map is the regions of Brunswick and Lüneburg, areas known for their historical significance and cultural richness. Brunswick, once a powerful and influential independent city, is beautifully depicted in its full glory. Lüneburg, a salt-producing town that was a major part of the Hanseatic League, is also meticulously detailed. The map reflects the precise and detailed cartographic style that was characteristic of the Dutch Golden Age.
Notably, the map also highlights key cities such as Hanover, Wolfsburg, Hildesheim, and Göttingen. Hanover, the capital of the Kingdom of Hanover, was an important center of royal power. Wolfsburg, known for its association with the House of Welf, Hildesheim, a historic city dating back to the Middle Ages, and Göttingen, a city known for its university, are all represented with their unique characteristics.
The map also showcases the Harz National Park, a large forested area that is home to the Brocken, the highest peak in Northern Germany. This feature adds a touch of natural beauty to the map, contrasting the urban areas and political boundaries. This map is not just a geographical representation, but also a journey into the past, providing a glimpse into the rich history and culture of these regions during the late 17th century.
Some of the significant locations shown on this map:
Duchy of Brunswick
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Brunswick (Braunschweig): Known for its rich history, Brunswick was an influential independent city and a cultural hub during the Middle Ages. Also known as Braunschweig in German.
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Wolfenbüttel: Once the residence of the dukes of Brunswick for over 400 years, it is known for the Herzog August Library, which was one of the largest libraries in Europe during the 17th century.
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Peine: An old town dating back to 1218, it was known for its iron ore mining.
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Salzgitter: Although now a major industrial city, it was a small settlement in the 17th century known for its rich iron ore deposits.
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Helmstedt: Known for its university founded in 1576, it was a major center of learning in the 17th century.
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Goslar: A historic town known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and silver mines.
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Wernigerode: Known for its picturesque half-timbered houses, it was a significant settlement during the Middle Ages.
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Halberstadt: An important center of wine production and trade in the Middle Ages.
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Quedlinburg: Known for its Romanesque architecture and cobblestone streets, it was an important royal and imperial town in the Middle Ages.
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Blankenburg: Known for its castle, it was the residence of the dukes of Brunswick for some time.
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Seesen: A historic town known for its timber-framed houses.
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Gifhorn: Known for its water castle, it was a significant settlement during the Middle Ages.
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Celle: Known for its ducal palace, it was the residence of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
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Uelzen: Known for its medieval architecture, it was an important trading town in the Middle Ages.
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Lüchow: Known for its half-timbered houses, it was a significant settlement during the Middle Ages.
Duchy of Lüneburg
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Lüneburg: Known for its salt production, it was a major part of the Hanseatic League.
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Hanover (Hannover): The capital of the Kingdom of Hanover, it was an important center of royal power.
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Hildesheim: A historic city dating back to the Middle Ages, known for its Romanesque architecture.
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Göttingen: Known for its university founded in 1734, it was a significant center of learning.
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Wolfsburg: Known for its association with the House of Welf, it was a significant settlement during the Middle Ages.
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Stade: Known for its historic harbor, it was an important trading town.
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Cuxhaven: Known for its fishing industry, it was a significant settlement during the Middle Ages.
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Lübeck: Known for its brick Gothic architecture, it was the queen of the Hanseatic League.
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Kiel: Known for its harbor, it was an important naval base during the Middle Ages.
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Flensburg: Known for its historic harbor, it was an important trading town.
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Hamburg: Known for its port, it was a major member of the medieval Hanseatic League.
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Bremen: Known for its market square, it was an important trading city and member of the Hanseatic League.
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Oldenburg: Known for its castle, it was the residence of the counts of Oldenburg.
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Osnabrück: Known for its university founded in 1576, it was a significant center of learning.
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Münster: Known for its historic old town, it was an important trading town in the Middle Ages.
Notable Natural Features
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Harz National Park: A large forested area that is home to the Brocken, the highest peak in Northern Germany.
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River Elbe: One of the major rivers of Central Europe, flowing through several countries before emptying into the North Sea.
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River Weser: Known for its scenic beauty, it is one of the major rivers in northern Germany.
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River Ems: A major river in northwestern Germany, known for its rich biodiversity.
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Lüneburg Heath: A large area of heath, geest, and woodland in the northeastern part of Lower Saxony.
Notable Historical Events (1600-1690)
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Thirty Years' War (1618-1648): A series of wars in Central Europe, one of the most destructive conflicts in European history.
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Peace of Westphalia (1648): A series of peace treaties signed in the Westphalian cities of Osnabrück and Münster, effectively ending the European wars of religion.
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Brunswick-Lüneburg War of Succession (1671): A conflict over the inheritance of the principality of Lüneburg.
Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.
This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x30in (61x76cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but
it looks even better when printed large.
I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 100in (254cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for
larger, customised or different framing options.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) version of this map.
The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.
If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps of Europe and European cities to see if something else catches your eye.
Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.
This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.
This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.