Georg Braun

Georg Braun(alsoBrunus, Bruin;1541 – 10 March 1622) was a German topo-geographer.^[1]From 1572 to 1617, he edited theCivitates orbis terrarum,^[2]which contains 546 prospects, bird's-eye views and maps of cities from all around the world.^[3]As principal editor of the work, he acquired the tables, hired the artists, and wrote the texts. He died as an octogenarian in 1622, the only survivor of the original team to witness the publication of volume VI in 1617.

Biography

Historical view ofTrier,Germany, published inCivitates Orbis Terrarumwith Frans Hogenberg

Braun was born and died inCologne.His principal profession was as aCatholic cleric.He spent thirty-seven years ascanonanddeanat the church,St. Maria ad Gradus,in Cologne. His six-volume work was inspired bySebastian Münster'sCosmographia.In form and layout it resembles the 1570Theatrum orbis terrarumbyAbraham Ortelius,as Ortelius was interested in a complementary companion for the Theatrum.

The Braun publication set new standards in cartography for over 100 years.Frans Hogenberg(1535–1590, fromMechelen) created the tables for volumes I through IV, andSimon van den Neuwelcreated those for volumes V and VI. Other contributors wereJoris Hoefnagel,Jacob Hoefnagel,cartographerDaniel Freese,andHeinrich Rantzau.Works byJacob van Deventer,Sebastian Münster,andJohannes Stumpfwere also used. Primarily European cities are depicted in the publication; however,Cairo^[4]Casablanca^[5]andMexico Cityas well asCuzcoon one sheet^[6]are also included in volume I, whereasTunisis featured in volume II.^[7]