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This highly detailed and attractively colored map presents the Archbishopric and Electorate of Cologne as it appeared around the year 1700, focusing on its extensive, non-contiguous territories along the lower and middle Rhine River.
The map captures the fragmented political landscape of the Holy Roman Empire with precision and elegance, illustrating the secular and ecclesiastical holdings of one of its most important ecclesiastical principalities.
The Electorate of Cologne (Erzstift und Kurfürstentum Köln), a powerful ecclesiastical principality within the Empire, is shown in pink, reflecting its disjointed territories that stretch from the Duchy of Cleves in the north to the Koblenz (Coblentz) area in the south. It traces the winding course of the Rhine River, with emphasis on cities of major administrative and strategic importance—Wesel, Rheinberg, Duisburg, Düsseldorf, Leverkusen, Cologne (Köln), Bonn, and Koblenz.
Two decorative cartouches enliven the composition:
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In the upper right, a dramatic allegorical cartouche features a Roman soldier accompanied by religious and pastoral symbols, suggesting the dual military and spiritual authority of the archbishops-electors of Cologne.
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In the lower left, the title cartouche is framed with rococo scrollwork and flanked by a reclining river god, classical figures, and armorial devices—typical iconography of late 17th- and early 18th-century continental mapmaking.
Rivers, forests, and mountain ranges are finely engraved, and settlements are categorized by symbol and typographic style. Ecclesiastical holdings, abbeys, and bishoprics are distinguished alongside secular towns and castles, reflecting the Holy Roman Empire’s complex feudal-religious structure.
As one of the ecclesiastical prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire, the Archbishop of Cologne held both spiritual authority and temporal power over wide-ranging territories. In addition to the Hochstift (episcopal domain), the archbishopric included scattered enclaves within territories ruled by other secular and ecclesiastical princes. The geopolitical significance of the region was amplified by its position along the Rhine, a key corridor for commerce and military movement. The Electorate was frequently involved in European conflicts, particularly during the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) and earlier during the Thirty Years' War, which had devastated many towns depicted on the map.
Pierre, or Pieter, Mortier (1661-1711) was a Dutch engraver, son of a French refugee. He was born in Leiden. In 1690 he was granted a privilege to publish French maps in Dutch lands. In 1693 he released the first and accompanying volume of the Neptune Francois. The third followed in 1700. His son, Cornelis (1699-1783), would partner with Johannes Covens I, creating one of the most important map publishing companies of the eighteenth century.
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