Das Fünffte Buch 674 / Bildtnuß Keysers Sigmunds.

Title

Das Fünffte Buch 674 / Bildtnuß Keysers Sigmunds.

"Portrait of Emperor Sigismund of Hungary with German description.

ca. 1588

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

Emperor Sigismund of Hungary was a significant ruler of the Middle Ages and played a key role in the history of Europe during the 14th and 15th centuries. Sigismund of Luxembourg was born in 1368 and was the son of Emperor Charles IV and Elisabeth of Pomerania. He was part of the Habsburg-Luxembourg ruling house. In 1387, he became King of Hungary. In 1410, he was elected King of Bohemia, and in 1411, he was crowned Holy Roman Emperor.Sigismund played an important role in the Western Schism (1378–1417) and was a significant figure at the Council of Constance (1414–1418), which helped end the schism and elected Pope Martin V. He fought against the Hussite movement in Bohemia. Sigismund died in 1437 and left behind a complex political landscape. He is remembered today as a ruler who shaped Europe’s political landscape, but also one who faced numerous internal and external struggles.