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Fortunat Sprecher von Berneck (1585-1647), hailing from the distinguished and noble Bündner family Sprecher von Bernegg, was a prominent Swiss jurist, diplomat, and chronicler from Graubünden​​. Born in Davos, his early education led him to study in some of the most respected universities across Europe, including Basel in 1602, Paris in 1605, and Orléans in 1606, where he completed his degree in law​​.

Sprecher served as an envoy for the Three Leagues, the federation of communes in the Grisons region, undertaking a diplomatic mission in April 1621 to Innsbruck and Imst to meet with Archduke Leopold V of Austria​​. 

In the realm of cartography and historiography, Sprecher made significant contributions. He authored a Rhaetian chronicle and a history of wars and unrest in the High Rhaetian region, thus providing valuable insights into the historical context of the Grisons during tumultuous periods​​. His scholarly work also intersected with cartography when he collaborated with Philipp Cluverius to produce the first modern map of Graubünden in 1618, known as the Rhaetia-map. This map was a pioneering work of its time, representing the region with unprecedented accuracy and detail. It was re-issued in 1621 by Van Geelkercken, and again by Visscher in 1625.

 


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