Mecklenburg – Reinier and Josua Ottens, 1757

18TH CENTURY MECKLENBURG 

“Ducatus Meklenburgicus in quo sunt Ducatus Vandaliae et Meklenburgi Comitatus et Episcopatus Swerinensis Rostochiense et Stargardiense Dom.” [The Duchy of Mecklenburg, comprising the Duchy of Vandalia (situated between the rivers Oder and Vistula in present-day Poland) and Mecklenburg, together with the counties and the bishopric of Schwerin, as well as Rostock and Stargard.] Copper engraving published by Reinier and Josua Ottens in 1757. Contemporary hand colouring. 51 × 60 cm.

This map provides a detailed representation of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, situated on the Baltic Sea. Since 1701, the territory had been divided into two principalities: Mecklenburg-Schwerin, with Schwerin as its residence, and Mecklenburg-Strelitz, centred around Neustrelitz. Important cities are clearly marked, including Rostock, Schwerin, Güstrow, and Stargard. Wismar, a former Hanseatic city, was formally still under Swedish rule at the time, but from 1749 had been pledged to Mecklenburg for a period of one hundred years.

The landscape is characterised by numerous lakes—of which the Müritz is the largest—together with extensive farmland and forests. The economy was predominantly agrarian and dominated by the landed nobility, who also held political power in the estates assembly. Serfdom and bondage persisted here longer than in many other parts of Germany, leaving the peasantry with few freedoms.

Although cities such as Rostock and Wismar still recalled the prosperous trading past of the Hanseatic League, Mecklenburg in the 18th century stood culturally and economically in the shadow of stronger German states.

The map is adorned with a cloud-shaped title cartouche. Putti hold aloft the coat of arms of Mecklenburg with the imperial crown, as well as the region’s rich agricultural produce.

Price: Euro 350,-