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Description

This map depicts the County of Glatz, a historic region that is now part of modern-day southwestern Poland.

The map was created during a time when Glatz was a significant territory within the Kingdom of Bohemia, under the rule of the Habsburg Monarchy. The map is richly decorated with ornate cartouches, heraldic symbols, and figures, which are characteristic of 17th-century cartographic art, reflecting both the artistic and political aspirations of the period.

The map details the county’s terrain, marked by rugged mountains, dense forests, and the extensive river networks that define the region's landscape. Major rivers such as the Neisse and its tributaries are prominently featured, providing a critical lifeline for transport and trade. The river Neisse, in particular, flows through the town of Glatz (now Kłodzko), which is depicted near the center of the map. Glatz was the administrative heart of the county and a strategic military fortress due to its location along vital trade routes between Bohemia, Silesia, and Poland. 

Key towns such as Glatz (Kłodzko), Habelschwerdt (Bystrzyca Kłodzka), and Reinerz (Duszniki-Zdrój) are illustrate . Glatz, the principal town, was a fortified settlement of significant strategic importance, heavily influenced by its location on the borderlands of Bohemia. Habelschwerdt served as a secondary stronghold and an administrative center, while Reinerz was known for its therapeutic mineral springs, which attracted visitors from across Europe. 

During the 17th century, the County of Glatz was embroiled in the broader conflicts that affected the Holy Roman Empire, including the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). This war was a pivotal period that saw the Habsburg Monarchy struggle to maintain control over its territories, including Bohemia and its dependencies like Glatz. The region was ravaged by the conflict, with shifting allegiances and repeated invasions by both Imperial and Protestant forces, contributing to widespread devastation and population displacement.

Following the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War, Glatz remained under Habsburg control but was significantly impacted by the war’s economic and social turmoil. The peace treaty re-established Habsburg sovereignty over Bohemia and its associated lands, including Glatz, which continued to be an important defensive outpost against external threats, particularly from the expanding influence of the Kingdom of Prussia. 

Willem Janszoon Blaeu Biography

Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was a prominent Dutch geographer and publisher. Born the son of a herring merchant, Blaeu chose not fish but mathematics and astronomy for his focus. He studied with the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, with whom he honed his instrument and globe making skills. Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam, where he sold instruments and globes, published maps, and edited the works of intellectuals like Descartes and Hugo Grotius. In 1635, he released his atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive, Atlas novus.

Willem died in 1638. He had two sons, Cornelis (1610-1648) and Joan (1596-1673). Joan trained as a lawyer, but joined his father’s business rather than practice. After his father’s death, the brothers took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Later in life, Joan would modify and greatly expand his father’s Atlas novus, eventually releasing his masterpiece, the Atlas maior, between 1662 and 1672.