Campidonia vulgo Kemptten, peruetus sacri Romani Imperii oppid

Title

Campidonia vulgo Kemptten, peruetus sacri Romani Imperii oppid

Description

Splendid bird's-eye view from the east of Kempten im Allgäu, featuring three heraldic coats of arms and a cartouche with the title and index. The reverse side contains a Latin text describing Kempten's rich Roman history and its contemporary role as a Free Imperial City, sheet number 38.

ca. 1575

Artist

Braun/Hogenberg Franz/ Georg (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

Kempten is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria and has a long history that dates back to Roman times. The name Kempten likely originates from the Roman settlement "Cantabrianum". In the Middle Ages, Kempten grew into an important monastic city. In the 8th century, the Kempten Abbey was founded. Kempten was a free imperial city and, in the 13th century, gained the status of an imperial city within the Holy Roman Empire. In the 19th century, Kempten lost its religious significance due to the secularization of 1803 but experienced an economic boom, particularly due to industrialization. Today, Kempten is a modern city that has preserved its historical importance as a cultural and economic center. Some of the most famous landmarks include the Allgäu Museum, the Kempten Town Hall, and the St. Lorenz Basilica.