FAMOUS MAP OF THE HISTORY OF BRABANT "Brabantia Ducatus". Copper engraving made by Abraham Goos, published in Amsterdam by Claes Jansz. Visscher in 1622. 2nd state (of 11). Later hand-coloured. Measures 46 x 56,5 cm. The Duchy of Brabant was at the time a vast area. It stretched far beyond the borders of present-day Holland and Belgium. It was then an almost 'empty' territory. Wars were fought there, territory was gained or lost. The map was published shortly after the Twelve Year Truce. Visscher incorporated unfolding news facts and the map appeared, each time adapted, in no fewer than 11 different states. For example, on this copy the punitive expedition led by Frederick Henry from Breda to Rustenburg in the vicinity of Louvain between 15 and 22 May 1622 is depicted, as well as the burning of enemy territory, symbolised by countless clouds of smoke from fires between Louvain and Brussels. In Brabant, the Eighty Years' War was primarily a struggle between Catholics and Protestants. It was a war of fortresses, cities were conquered and recaptured. Borders were constantly changing. Most people in Brabant remained loyal to the Spanish king; they did not see army commander Van Oranje as a liberator, but as an occupier. After 80 years of fighting, the Peace of Münster was finally signed in 1648. The Duchy of Brabant split in two: the south of the country remained with Spain, the north with the Dutch Republic. Above and below the map image are views of Leuven, Brussels, Antwerp, 's Hertogenbosch, Tienen, Bergen op Zoom, Lier, Helmond, Breda and Mechelen. In the top corners, portraits of Albrecht VII, Archduke of Austria and his wife Isabella of Spain, who both ruled as sovereign over the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621. To the left and right of the map image, we see a nobleman and his wife, a merchant and his wife, a farmer and a farmer's wife, and a man and woman in Mechelen clothes. Bottom left the coat of arms of the marquisate of Antwerp, bottom right the coat of arms of Mechelen. Price: Euro 2,350
