Prospect und Grundris der des Heil. Röm. Reichs-Stadt Nürnberg samt ihren Linien und Gegend auf eine Meil wegs herumb.

Title

Prospect und Grundris der des Heil. Röm. Reichs-Stadt Nürnberg samt ihren Linien und Gegend auf eine Meil wegs herumb.

Description

Plan of the city of Nuremberg with its surroundings such as Fürth, Mögeldorf, Dutzendteich, Altenberg, Höfles, Hummelstein, Ziegelstein and many more. Below the plan a general view with city index, left and right allegorical figures and views of the castle. Furthermore, the Nuremberg coat of arms with the double-headed imperial eagle and the two Nuremberg city coats of arms, the large and the small coat of arms.

ca. 1710

Artist

Homann (1664-1724)

Johann Babtiste Homann (1664-1724), Nuremberg, was born in Oberkammlach, the Electorate of Bavaria. Although educated at a Jesuit school, and preparing for an ecclesiastical career, he eventually converted to Protestantism and from 1687 worked as a civil law notary in Nuremberg. He soon turned to engraving and cartography; in 1702 he founded his own publishing house. Homann acquired renown as a leading German cartographer, and in 1715 was appointed Imperial Geographer by Emperor Charles VI. Giving such privileges to individuals was an added right that the Holy Roman Emperor enjoyed. In the same year he was also named a member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Of particular significance to cartography were the imperial printing privileges (Latin: privilegia impressoria). These protected for a time the authors in all scientific fields such as printers, copper engravers, map makers and publishers. They were also very important as a recommendation for potential customers. In 1716 Homann published his masterpiece Grosser Atlas ueber die ganze Welt (Grand Atlas of all the World). Numerous maps were drawn up in cooperation with the engraver Christoph Weigel the Elder, who also published Siebmachers Wappenbuch. Homann died in Nuremberg. He was succeeded by the Homann heirs company, which was in business until 1848. The company was known as Homann Erben, Homanniani Heredes, or Heritiers de Homann abroad.

Historical Description

Nuremberg is an independent city in the administrative district of Middle Franconia in the Free State of Bavaria. When the city was founded is not handed down, it could have been between 1000 and 1040 in the course of securing the border area between Saxony, Bavaria, East Franconia and Bohemia at the intersection of important roads. With the Great Letter of Freedom, King Frederick II made Nuremberg a Free Imperial City in 1219. Many emperors liked to choose Nuremberg as their place of residence, including Charles IV, who issued the Golden Bull in Nuremberg in 1356. In 1423, King Sigismund gave the imperial regalia to the city, which kept them until the beginning of the 19th century. The years between 1470 and 1530 are generally considered the city's heyday - despite recurring feuds and conflicts with knights such as Götz von Berlichingen and Conz Schott von Schottenstein, which were, however, stopped after 1512 by the army of the Franconian Imperial Circle. Many emperors liked to choose Nuremberg as a place to stay, including Charles IV, who issued the Golden Bull in Nuremberg in 1356. In 1423, King Sigismund gave the imperial regalia to the city, which kept them until the beginning of the 19th century. The years between 1470 and 1530 are generally considered the city's heyday - despite recurring feuds and conflicts with knights such as Götz von Berlichingen and Conz Schott von Schottenstein, which were, however, stopped after 1512 by the army of the Franconian Imperial Circle. The wealth of the city came from the excellent craftsmanship as well as the favorable location as a trading center in the middle of Europe. During the Thirty Years' War, the area around Nuremberg was the scene of a war of position between the warring parties that lasted for several years. In 1792, the Kunstverein Nuremberg, Germany's first art association, was founded. From 1796 to 1806, after pressure from the Prussian administration in neighboring Ansbach, Nuremberg finally submitted to Prussian rule. The treaty was not executed because Prussia was deterred by Nuremberg's debts. In 1803, Nuremberg nevertheless initially continued to remain independent until French troops occupied Nuremberg after the signing of the Treaty of the Confederation of the Rhine and the end of the Old Empire.In 1806, the French army finally handed the city over to the Kingdom of Bavaria, which immediately installed a civil administration and administratively incorporated the city into the kingdom. In 1806, the Kingdom of Bavaria took over the exorbitant debts of the Imperial City of Nuremberg as part of the overall Bavarian national debt and thus ensured their consolidation and repayment. With Count Montgelas in 1817, Nuremberg again received its own magistrate and mayor in May 1818.