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Decorative map of the Lorraine Reigon, centered on Bayone and Nancy and including the Sar and Moselle River Valleys, oriented with west at the top of the map.

This mid-17th century map, Lotharingia Ducatus, vulgo Lorraine, was engraved by Matthäus Merian and depicts the Duchy of Lorraine (Lotharingia), a strategically significant region in early modern Europe lying between France and the Holy Roman Empire. 

In the 17th century, Lorraine was a semi-autonomous duchy within the Holy Roman Empire, but its location between French and Imperial interests made it a focal point of military and political contest. Throughout the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), Lorraine suffered repeated invasions, occupations, and economic devastation. Though officially under Habsburg suzerainty, its rulers—particularly Duke Charles IV—struggled to maintain independence. France occupied Lorraine several times during the war and post-war decades, effectively controlling it from 1634 to 1661.   

Oriented with west at the top, the map presents Lorraine in rich detail, delineating forests, rivers, cities, and minor towns in Latinized forms. The Duchy is shown bordered by several key regions: Champagne to the west, Alsace to the east, Franche-Comté to the south, and Luxembourg to the north.  Among major rivers depicted are the Moselle, which flows from south to north through the heart of the duchy, passing by Nancy and Metz—both significant urban and administrative centers. The Meurthe and Sarre (Saar) rivers are also shown 

Prominent towns are rendered in slightly larger script, indicating their significance. Nancy, the ducal capital, appears centrally and was historically the residence of the Dukes of Lorraine. Metz, to the northwest, was one of the “Three Bishoprics” seized by France in 1552 and formally annexed in 1648 by the Treaty of Westphalia. Toul and Verdun, the other two bishoprics, also appear prominently. These cities were ecclesiastical and military strongholds, integral to regional control.

Further notable towns include Épinal, Lunéville, and Bar-le-Duc, as well as Dieuze and Sarrebourg. Each is marked with considerable attention to placement, relative size, and regional importance.

 In the lower right corner, Merian includes the coat of arms of the Duchy of Lorraine, quartered and surmounted by a ducal coronet and a pair of wings, likely reflecting the arms of the House of Lorraine.