Von der Herschafft und etlichen Stetten des Franckenlandts, sonderlich Windsheim, mit ihrer Contrafactur.

Title

Von der Herschafft und etlichen Stetten des Franckenlandts, sonderlich Windsheim, mit ihrer Contrafactur.

General view of Bad Windsheim in Middle Franconia, Bavaria with title loop and two representations of coats of arms. On the reverse an illustration of Bishop Saint Kilian from Scotland.

ca. 1580

Artist

Münster (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.

Historical Description

Bad Windsheim is a town in the district of Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim in Middle Franconia, Bavaria. Windsheim was continuously an independent imperial town in the Holy Roman Empire since the Hohenstaufen period, which is reflected in the town's coat of arms. The first documented reference to a settlement (called "Uuinedisheim") dates back to 741, and the naming is based on the personal name Winid. The document shows that there was a church in the village, which was dedicated to St. Martin. In the course of mediatization, Windsheim lost its status as an imperial town in 1802 and was awarded to Bavaria. In 889, St. Martin's Church was mentioned for the last time in a document. It can be concluded that there was an original settlement of Kleinwindsheim. The present town of Windsheim was founded somewhat later as a second settlement. In 1248, Windsheim was appointed an imperial town by Emperor Frederick II, directly subordinate to the emperor. In the course of mediatization, Windsheim lost its status as an imperial town in 1802 and was awarded to Bavaria.