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Hereford During the English Civil War
This 1645 map of Herefordshire by Blaeu offers a richly detailed geographical representation of the county during a pivotal time in English history. The Blaeu family was one of the leading Dutch cartographers of the 17th century.
This map is subdivided by Hundreds, features the rolling hills, rivers, and settlements of Herefordshire, also contains a prominent display of six coats of arms, symbolizing the noble families historically connected to the region.
The coats of arms depicted in the upper-right corner of the map highlight six key noble families, each of which played a significant role in Herefordshire’s feudal and political history:
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William FitzOsbern: The first coat of arms belongs to William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (c. 1011–1071). FitzOsbern was a close ally of William the Conqueror, and for his loyalty and leadership during the Norman Conquest, he was granted extensive lands in Herefordshire. His role as a military leader in the Marches helped establish Norman control over the borderlands with Wales.
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Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester: The second coat of arms, labeled "Robert Bossu E.," belongs to Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester (c. 1104–1168), also known as Robert Bossu (Robert the Hunchback). A key figure in the reign of King Stephen, Robert was one of the most powerful nobles of his time, overseeing large estates in the Midlands and maintaining influence in Herefordshire through his connections to the Marcher Lords.
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Miles of Gloucester, Earl of Hereford: The third coat of arms is for Miles of Gloucester, also known as Miles Coste of England (c. 1100–1143). As the 1st Earl of Hereford, he was one of the most influential Anglo-Norman nobles in the Welsh Marches. Miles was a staunch supporter of Empress Matilda during her struggle for the English crown against King Stephen, and his family’s connections to Herefordshire were deeply rooted in its feudal history.
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Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford: The fourth coat of arms represents Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford (1176–1220), from the powerful de Bohun family. His arms indicate the deep ties of the Bohuns to the county, particularly through their landholdings and political influence. Henry de Bohun was a significant figure in the baronial rebellion against King John, and his family remained influential in the region for centuries.
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Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster: The fifth coat of arms belongs to Henry Bolingbroke (1367–1413), later King Henry IV. Before becoming king, Bolingbroke was the Duke of Lancaster, a title that came with vast estates, including lands in the Welsh Marches and Herefordshire. His connection to the county is emblematic of his role as one of the most powerful figures in England prior to his ascension to the throne in 1399.
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Stafford Family: The bottom coat of arms is that of the Stafford family. The Staffords, later elevated to the title of Dukes of Buckingham, were prominent landowners in Herefordshire during the late Middle Ages. Their political fortunes rose and fell with the shifting allegiances of the Wars of the Roses, but their presence in the county remained significant throughout the period.
During this period, Herefordshire was shaped by its strategic location on the Welsh border and its proximity to political power centers in both England and Wales. The county saw substantial changes in landownership, particularly after the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII in the 1530s. Large tracts of church land were seized and redistributed to the gentry, reshaping the socio-political landscape of Herefordshire.
During the English Civil War (1642–1651), Herefordshire, like much of the West of England, remained largely Royalist, supporting King Charles I against Parliament. The map, produced in 1646, reflects a county that was in the midst of this national turmoil. The prominent noble families whose arms are displayed on the map were deeply involved in the region’s political and military affairs, some of which were directly impacted by the outcome of the war.
The map exemplifies the blend of art and geography typical of 17th-century Dutch cartography. The detailed depictions of Herefordshire’s natural features—rivers, hills, forests—and its hundreds (administrative divisions) showcase the practical use of the map for understanding the region. The coats of arms, depicted with cherubic figures, not only add a heraldic flourish but also serve as a reminder of the long-standing noble traditions that dominated the county’s history.
Joan, or Johannes, Blaeu (1596-1673) was the son of Willem Janszoon Blaeu. He inherited his father’s meticulous and striking mapmaking style and continued the Blaeu workshop until it burned in 1672. Initially, Joan trained as a lawyer, but he decided to join his father’s business rather than practice.
After his father’s death in 1638, Joan and his brother, Cornelis, took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Joan brought out many important works, including Nova et Accuratissima Terrarum Orbis Tabula, a world map to commemorate the Peace of Westphalia which brought news of Abel Tasman’s voyages in the Pacific to the attention of Europe. This map was used as a template for the world map set in the floor of the Amsterdam Town Hall, the Groote Burger-Zaal, in 1655.
Joan also modified and greatly expanded his father’s Atlas novus, first published in 1635. All the while, Joan was honing his own atlas. He published the Atlas maior between 1662 and 1672. It is one of the most sought-after atlases by collectors and institutions today due to the attention to the detail, quality, and beauty of the maps. He is also known for his town plans and wall maps of the continents. Joan’s productivity slammed to a halt in 1672, when a fire completely destroyed his workshop and stock. Joan died a year later and is buried in the Westerkerk in Amsterdam.
