Braga, by Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg. 1596

TRANSLATION OF CAPTION TOP LEFT: Gaspar Alvarus Machiadus, historian of the Holy Church of Braga, named the city after the famous lord, the Augustinian friar à Jesu Brac[ara], archbishop and lord, primate of Spain, a magnate of Lusitania, a counsellor at the royal court. 13 August 1594.

CAPTION RIGHT CENTRE: The River Alestes, which has its source in the Spino Mountains four miles from Braga, irrigates a delightful valley adjacent to the city, where many orchards and gardens have been planted. It is extraordinary that no lemon trees grow here, abundant everywhere else in the whole province. The river runs past the city and flows into the Avurus, which some wrongly call the Sethen, near the ancient town of Villa Comitis.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Braga is considered one of the oldest cities on the Iberian Peninsula and was built in 290 BC. [...] Alfonso I, the Catholic, wrested Braga from the tyrannous rule of the Moors before the other cities of Spain and, in AD 740, gave it back its former freedom. Count Henry also lies buried in a most beautiful church he had built. He was the father of Alfonso the Conqueror, the first king of Portugal."

Braga, which lies northeast of Porto on the Cávado River, is presented in a bird's-eye view from the south. The area was initially inhabited by the Bracari, a Celtic tribe, before being conquered in the 3rd century BC by the Romans, who founded the settlement of Bracara Augusta a few years before the birth of Christ. At the start of the 12th century, Braga was elevated to an archbishopric by Henry of Burgundy after a chequered history. As Count of Portugal, Henry freed his territory from growing dependence upon Castile. His son Alfonso I, the Conqueror, continued in this direction and, in 1139, declared himself the first king of Portugal. The creation of the see in 1107 also marked the start of the cathedral's construction, illustrated at the city's centre. (Taschen)

Braun G. & Hogenberg F. and the Civitates Orbis Terrarum.

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum, also known as the 'Braun & Hogenberg', is a six-volume town atlas and the most excellent book of town views and plans ever published: 363 engravings, sometimes beautifully coloured. It was one of the best-selling works in the last quarter of the 16th century. Georg Braun, a skilled writer, wrote the text accompanying the plans and views on the verso. Many plates were engraved after the original drawings of a professional artist, Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600). The first volume was published in Latin in 1572 and the sixth in 1617. Frans Hogenberg, a talented engraver, created the tables for volumes I through IV, and Simon van den Neuwel made those for volumes V and VI. Other contributors were cartographers Daniel Freese and Heinrich Rantzau, who provided valuable geographical information. Works by Jacob van Deventer, Sebastian Münster, and Johannes Stumpf were also used as references. Translations appeared in German and French, making the atlas accessible to a wider audience.

Since its original publication of volume 1 in 1572, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography. The first volume was followed by seven more editions in 1575, 1577, 1582, 1588, 1593, 1599, and 1612. Vol.2, initially released in 1575, saw subsequent editions in 1597 and 1612. The subsequent volumes, each a treasure trove of historical insights, graced the world in 1581, 1588, 1593, 1599, and 1606. The German translation of the first volume, a testament to its widespread appeal, debuted in 1574, followed by the French edition in 1575.

Several printers were involved: Theodor Graminaeus, Heinrich von Aich, Gottfried von Kempen, Johannis Sinniger, Bertram Buchholtz, and Peter von Brachel, all of whom worked in Cologne.

Georg Braun (1541-1622)

Georg Braun, the author of the text accompanying the plans and views in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was born in Cologne in 1541. After his studies in Cologne, he entered the Jesuit Order as a novice, indicating his commitment to learning and intellectual pursuits. In 1561, he obtained his bachelor's degree; in 1562, he received his Magister Artium, further demonstrating his academic achievements. Although he left the Jesuit Order, he continued his studies in theology, gaining a licentiate in theology. His theological background likely influenced the content and tone of the text in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, adding a unique perspective to the work.

Frans Hogenberg (1535-1590)

Frans Hogenberg was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. He was born in Mechelen as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg.

By the end of the 1560s, Frans Hogenberg was employed upon Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in 1570; he is named an engraver of numerous maps. In 1568, he was banned from Antwerp by the Duke of Alva and travelled to London, where he stayed a few years before emigrating to Cologne. He immediately embarked on his two most important works, the Civitates, published in 1572 and the Geschichtsblätter, which appeared in several series from 1569 until about 1587.

Thanks to large-scale projects like the Geschichtsblätter and the Civitates, Hogenberg's social circumstances improved with each passing year. He died as a wealthy man in Cologne in 1590.