Carte du Bourdelois du pais de Medoc, et de la prevosté de Born/ Principatus Benearnia – La principaute de Bearn

Title

Carte du Bourdelois du pais de Medoc, et de la prevosté de Born/ Principatus Benearnia – La principaute de Bearn

Description

2 maps on one sheet sowing the region of Aquitaine with the cities of Bayone, Dax, Bourdeaux and Oleron

ca. 1610

Artist

Blaeu (1571-1638)

Joan Guilliemus Blaeu was the eldest son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638), and was probably born in Alkmaar in the province of Noord-Holland in the final years of the 16th century. He was brought up in Amsterdam, and studied law at the University of Leiden before going into partnership with his father in the 1630s. Although his father Willem had cartographic interests, having studied under the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe and having manufactured globes and instruments, his primary business was as a printer. It was under the control of Joan that the Blaeu printing press achieved lasting fame by moving towards the printing of maps and expanding to become the largest printing press in Europe in the 17th century. By the 1660s the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (or Atlas Maior as it had became known by this time) had expanded to between 9 and 12 volumes, depending on the language. With over 3,000 text pages and approximately 600 maps, it was the most expensive book money could buy in the later 17th century. The translation of the text from Latin into Dutch, English, German, French, and Spanish for several volumes created enormous work for those involved in typography and letterpress activities. It is estimated that over 80 men must have been employed full-time in the Blaeu printing house in Bloemgracht, not including engravers who worked elsewhere, with over 15 printing presses running simultaneously, and in 1667 a second press was acquired at Gravenstraat. At the same time as producing the Atlas Maior, Blaeu was also publishing town plans of Italy, maps for globes, and other volumes. At its peak the Blaeu press managed to produce over 1 million impressions from 1,000 copper plates within four years.

Historical Description

Bordeaux is a city located in the southwest of France, about 45 kilometers from the Atlantic Ocean on the Garonne River, which runs through the city in a wide arc. This shape of a crescent moon gave the city its name Port de la lune (Port of the Moon). The history of Bordeaux spans a period of almost 2300 years. It is characterized by Celts, Romans, Franks and the English-French conflict. Bordeaux has belonged to France without interruption since the middle of the 15th century. Over the centuries, the city has enjoyed three periods of economic prosperity, mainly due to the strategic location of its trade and transport links. In the 5th century, Bordeaux was conquered by the Visigoths and shortly afterwards by the Franks. From 1462 to 1790, Bordeaux was the seat of the parlement de Bordeaux, which was responsible for Aquitaine and exercised legislative, jurisdictional and executive powers on behalf of the Crown. Compared to other French provinces, the standard of living in Bordeaux and the surrounding area was high. The food supply was sufficient and the city benefited from a trade network through which local wine could be exported and English manufactured goods imported. The University of Bordeaux was founded in 1441. After an intermittent decline, Bordeaux experienced its third heyday in the 18th century thanks to the flourishing Atlantic maritime trade, particularly with the Antilles. During the French Revolution, Bordeaux became the capital of the Département of Gironde. During the Napoleonic Wars, huge contingents were moved towards Spain, passing through Bordeaux among other places. During the emerging industrialization, most of the large companies settled here and in the port area. Bordeaux began to grow together with its neighboring towns.