IMPRESSIVE WALL MAP OF LUXEMBOURG “Le Duché de Luxembourg divisé en quartier Walon et Allemand dans chacun desquels sont divisez…

IMPRESSIVE WALL MAP OF LUXEMBOURG

“Le Duché de Luxembourg divisé en quartier Walon et Allemand dans chacun desquels sont divisez les seigneuries, prevostés et comtés. Le Duché de Bouillon, le Comté de Namur et le Pays entre Sambre et Meuse.” [The Duchy of Luxembourg divided into the Walloon and German quarters, within each of which the lordships, provostships, and counties are divided. The Duchy of Bouillon, the County of Namur, and the Land between the Sambre and Meuse.] Copper engraving on 4 mounted sheets by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot in 1695. Coloured by a later hand. Size:  approx. 105 x 123 cm.

In the last quarter of the 17th century, the Duchy of Luxembourg was a highly contested and strategically significant territory within the broader European geopolitical landscape. As part of the Spanish Netherlands, it became a focal point for conflict between major European powers, particularly during the Wars of Louis XIV.

In 1684, this led to the duchy being integrated into France under the Truce of Ratisbon, effectively making it a French possession. The city of Luxembourg was significantly fortified, transforming it into one of the most impregnable strongholds in Europe, often referred to as the “Gibraltar of the North.”

During the Nine Years’ War (1688–1697), France pitted against a coalition of European powers, including Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, England, and the Dutch Republic. The duchy remained under French control during much of the war, symbolizing France’s dominance in the region. The war ended with the Treaty of Ryswick (1697), which stipulated that Luxembourg, along with other territories, be returned to Spanish rule.

Luxembourg’s location made it a vital buffer state between France, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Low Countries.

By the end of the 17th century, Luxembourg had been deeply marked by warfare and occupation, setting the stage for its continued involvement in European power struggles during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714).

The duchy of Luxembourg was organized into seigneuries (lordships), provostships and counties, all marked of the map, each representing varying levels of jurisdiction and governance. The provostships served as critical judicial and administrative units, while the lordships and counties highlighted the feudal structure of landholding and governance.

Alexis-Hubert Jaillot (c. 1632 – 1712) initially began his career as a sculptor. Upon marrying the daughter of Nicholas I Berey, he inherited a lucrative map and print publishing business. After the death of Nicholas Sanson (1600 – 1667), the leading French cartographer of the time, Jaillot negotiated with Sanson’s heirs to republish much of his work. It was the beginning of the great age of French cartography in the late 17th and 18th centuries, during which the cartographic publishing center of the world gradually shifted from Amsterdam to Paris.

Jaillot’s maps were particularly admired for their elaborate and meaningful allegorical cartouches, as seen here on the map of Luxembourg. He used these cartouches to extol the virtues of the Sun King, Louis XIV, highlighting his military and political triumphs. This work earned Jaillot the patronage of the French crown. In 1686, he was awarded the prestigious title of Géographe du Roi, which came with significant honor and an annual stipend of 600 livres.

Price: Euro 2.950,-