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Exceptionally decorative map of the Electorate of Hanover with surrounding areas extending to Oldenburg, Lübeck, Wernigerode, Göttingen, Höxter, Minden. At the bottom, a large, panoramic view of Hanover is flanked by city plans of Nienburg, Hildesheim, and Bremervörde, with a frieze of five additional city plans—Lüneburg, Harburg, Uelzen, Stade, and Bremen—along the top border.
This map offers a comprehensive depiction of the Electorate of Hanover, a key territorial state in the Holy Roman Empire. Elevated to an electorate in 1692, Hanover played a significant role in European geopolitics, particularly after the personal union with the British crown in 1714 when the Elector of Hanover, George Louis, became King George I of Great Britain. This map not only outlines the intricate borders of the Electorate but also provides insets and a city view that highlight its military and administrative importance.
The Electorate of Hanover, strategically positioned in northern Germany, was a major player in European power dynamics throughout the 18th century. The detailed "Remarque" section on the map catalogues the various duchies, bailiwicks, and counties within the Electorate, including the Duchy of Calenberg, the Bailiwicks of Hanover, Calenberg, Munden, and the County of Grubenhagen. The map reflects the importance of these territories, both as economic centers and as defensive strongholds amidst regional conflicts, including the War of the Austrian Succession.
Prominently featured is a view of the city of Hanover, the capital of the Electorate. The view highlights the city’s fortified structure, with imposing walls and key buildings like churches and administrative centers. The layout reflects the city’s dual role as both a political capital and a military stronghold, reinforcing its significance during a period marked by shifting alliances and territorial conflicts in northern Europe.
The "Remarque" section provides an in-depth catalog of the Electorate’s territories, administrative divisions, and notable events. Among these, it records the catastrophic flooding of December 25, 1717, when storm-driven waters breached dikes around Bremen, resulting in widespread devastation. The section also notes strategic military installations at Nyenburg and Hameln, highlighting the region’s defensive readiness.
George-Louis Le Rouge (1712-1790), though known for his work in Paris, was originally born Georg Ludwig of Hanover, Germany. He grew up and was educated in Hanover, after which he became a surveyor and military engineer. Around 1740, however, Le Rouge moved to Paris and set up shop as an engraver and publisher on the Rue des Grands Augustins. It was at this time that he changed his name, adopting a French pseudonym that would later become quite famous.
Le Rouge spent much of his forty-year career translating various works from English to French, and his cartographic influence often came from English maps. His experience as a surveyor and engineer in Germany made him a skilled and prolific cartographer, and he produced thousands of charts, maps, atlases, and plans. His work spans from garden views and small-town plans to huge, multiple-continent maps. Le Rouge eventually accepted the position of Geographical Engineer for Louid XV, the King of France.
Later in life, Le Rouge became well-known for publishing North American maps, such as in his Atlas ameriquain septentrional of 1778. One of Le Rouge’s other more famous works is the Franklin/Folger chart of the Gulf Stream, which he worked on with Benjamin Franklin. Franklin and Le Rouge corresponded around 1780 and collaborated to create this map, a French version of Franklin’s famous chart which was originally printed in 1769.
![Braunsvicensis et Luneburgensis Ducatuum Vera Delineat. [on sheet with:] Norimberg. Agri, Fidissima Descrip.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/85497.jpg)
