Le gouvernement d´ Orleans, et la generalite divisee en ses elections

Title

Le gouvernement d´ Orleans, et la generalite divisee en ses elections

Description

The map shows the Centre region with the city of Orléans, featuring a magnificent title cartouche and mileage cartouche. Translation of the title: "The Government of Orléans and the Généralité, divided into its electoral districts."

dated 1693

Artist

Sanson/ Jaillot, Charles Hubert (1600-1667)

Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667) was a French cartographer, termed by some the creator of French geography, in which he's been called the father of French cartography. Active from 1627, Sanson issued his first map of importance, the ""Postes de France"", which was published by Melchior Tavernier in 1632. After publishing several general atlases himself he became the associate of Pierre Mariette, a publisher of prints. In 1647 Sanson accused the Jesuit Philippe Labbe of plagiarizing him in his Pharus Galliae Antiquae; in 1648 he lost his eldest son Nicolas, killed during the Fronde. Among the friends of his later years was the great Condé. He died in Paris on 7 July 1667. Two younger sons, Adrien (d. 1708) and Guillaume (d. 1703), succeeded him as geographers to the king. In 1692 Hubert Jaillot collected Sanson's maps in an Atlas nouveau. See also the 18th century editions of some of Sanson's works on Delamarche under the titles of Atlas de géographie ancienne and Atlas britannique; and the Catalogue des cartes et livres de géographie de Sanson (1702).

Historical Description

Centre (today called Centre-Val de Loire) is a historical region in the center of France along the Loire River. It consists of several departments, including Loiret, Indre-et-Loire, and Cher, and is especially known for its numerous castles. In the Middle Ages, the region played an important role in French history. The city of Orléans became famous during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1429, the French national heroine Joan of Arc succeeded in freeing the city from the English siege. During the Renaissance, the Loire Valley became a center of culture and royal power. French kings built many magnificent castles there, including the famous Château de Chambord. Because of this, the region is often called the “Garden of France.” Today, Centre-Val de Loire is particularly known for its historic cities, its castles, and the cultural landscape of the Loire Valley.