Brixia Tyrolis/ Laubinga Sveviae

Title

Brixia Tyrolis/ Laubinga Sveviae

Description

Map shows Brixen in South Tirol Italy and Lauingen in Germany Swabia.

ca. 1570

Artist

Braun/Hogenberg (1572-1618)

Frans Hogenberg (1535 – 1590) was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. Hogenberg was born in Mechelen as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg In 1568 he was banned from Antwerp by the Duke of Alva. He travelled to London, where he stayed a few years before emigrating to Cologne. He is known for portraits and topographical views as well as historical allegories. He also produced scenes of contemporary historical events. George Braun (1541-1622), a cleric of Cologne, was the principal editor of the "Civitates Orbis Terrarum". The first volume of the Civitates Orbis Terrarum was published in Cologne in 1572. The sixth and the final volume appeared in 1617. This great city atlas, edited by Georg Braun and largely engraved by Franz Hogenberg, eventually contained 546 prospects, bird-eye views and map views of cities from all over the world. Braun (1541-1622), a cleric of Cologne, was the principal editor of the work, and was greatly assisted in his project by the close, and continued interest of Abraham Ortelius, whose Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of 1570 was, as a systematic and comprehensive collection of maps of uniform style, the first true atlas.

Historical Description

Ruled by prince-bishops for centuries, Brixen is one of the oldest towns in the Tyrol region. After the subjugation of the Alpine tribes in the 1st century BC, the area was annexed by the Roman Empire. Brixen was first mentioned in a document in 901 as the “Prihsna” farmstead in a deed of gift from the Carolingian Louis IV to Bishop Zacharias von Säben. Conflicts between the prince-bishops and local nobles arose in the immediate vicinity of the town in the Middle Ages. Only Prince-Bishop Bruno von Kirchberg was able to prevail against the Voitsbergers after years of feuding. Today, Brixen is the capital of the Eisack Valley district community, a local economic center and home to higher education institutions, several secondary schools and a public hospital.