Duchy of Brabant – Abraham Goos + Claes Jansz. Visscher, 1622

FAMOUS MAP OF THE DUCHY OF BRABANT

“Brabantia Ducatus.” Copper engraving by Abraham Goos, published in Amsterdam by Claes Jansz. Visscher in 1622. 2nd state (of 11). Coloured by a later hand. Size 46 × 56.5 cm.

The Duchy of Brabant was at the time an extensive territory, stretching far beyond the borders of present-day Belgium and the Netherlands. Much of it was then sparsely populated—lands where wars were fought and territories were gained or lost.

The map was published shortly after the Twelve Years’ Truce. Visscher incorporated unfolding news events, and the map appeared, repeatedly updated, in no fewer than eleven different states. This particular example shows the punitive expedition led by Prince Frederik Hendrik from Breda to Rustenburg near Leuven between 15 and 22 May 1622, and the devastation of enemy territory, symbolized by countless plumes of smoke rising from burning villages between Leuven and Brussels.

In Brabant, the Eighty Years’ War was primarily a conflict between Catholics and Protestants. It was a war of fortresses—cities were captured and recaptured, and borders shifted constantly. Most of Brabant’s inhabitants remained loyal to the Spanish king; they did not regard the army of the Prince of Orange as liberators, but as occupiers. After eighty years of warfare, the Peace of Münster was finally signed in 1648. The duchy was divided in two: southern Brabant remained under Spanish rule, while the northern part became part of the Dutch Republic.

Above and below the map image are city views of Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp, ’s-Hertogenbosch, Tienen, Bergen op Zoom, Lier, Helmond, Breda, and Mechelen. In the upper corners are portraits of Archduke Albrecht VII of Austria and his wife Isabella of Spain, who jointly ruled the Habsburg Netherlands from 1598 to 1621. To the left and right of the map appear an aristocratic couple, a merchant and his wife, a farmer and his wife, and a man and woman dressed in the costume of Mechelen. In the lower left corner is the coat of arms of the Margraviate of Antwerp; in the lower right, that of Mechelen.

Price: Euro 2.150,- (incl. frame)