Insulae Corsicae accurata chorographia tradita….

Title

Insulae Corsicae accurata chorographia tradita….

Description

Map shows the island of Corsica with a beautiful cartouche.

dated 1735

Artist

Homann Erben (1724-1780)

Johann Babtiste Homann (1664-1724) was born in Oberkammlach, the Electorate of Bavaria. Although educated at a Jesuit school, and preparing for an ecclesiastical career, he eventually converted to Protestantism and from 1687 worked as a civil law notary in Nuremberg. He soon turned to engraving and cartography; in 1702 he founded his own publishing house. Homann acquired renown as a leading German cartographer, and in 1715 was appointed Imperial Geographer by Emperor Charles VI. Giving such privileges to individuals was an added right that the Holy Roman Emperor enjoyed. In the same year he was also named a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Of particular significance to cartography were the imperial printing privileges (Latin: privilegia impressoria). These protected for a time the authors in all scientific fields such as printers, copper engravers, map makers and publishers. They were also very important as a recommendation for potential customers. In 1716 Homann published his masterpiece Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World). Numerous maps were drawn up in cooperation with the engraver Christoph Weigel the Elder, who also published Siebmachers Wappenbuch. Homann died in Nuremberg. He was succeeded by the Homann heirs company, which was in business until 1848. The company was known as Homann Erben, Homanniani Heredes, or Heritiers de Homann abroad.

Historical Description

The name of the island of Corsica or French Corse probably goes back to the Phoenician term Korsai, which roughly means “covered with forests”. Occasionally, the Greek term for the island Kalliste (“the beautiful”) is thought to be the root of the current name. From the 14th century, Corsica belonged to the Republic of Genoa. In 1729, several years of uprisings against the Genoese began. On April 15, 1736, Corsican rebels made the German adventurer Baron Theodor von Neuhoff (1694-1756) their king in the monastery of Alesani in Castagniccia. King Theodor I of Corsica was the only king Corsica ever had. However, the Kingdom of Corsica lasted barely a year. Independence was proclaimed in 1755. Genoa then sold the island to France, which defeated the Corsican troops at the Battle of Ponte Nuovo in 1769. Corsica has been a French territory ever since - apart from a brief period during the French Revolution, when the island belonged to England.