Wittenberg, Frankfurt and der Oder, Wismar and Rostock Antique City Views
This is a four-panel composite engraving from Civitates Orbis Terrarum, presenting Wittenburg, Frankfurt and der Oder, Wismar and Rostock, important cities of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg, each depicted with an emphasis on their civic pride, fortifications, and trade connections, particularly along the Elbe River and the Baltic Sea. The mix of bird’s-eye views and planimetric projections reflects both strategic and economic importance, while the inclusion of maritime scenes, ships and active riverside landscapes emphasizes the role of trade, navigation, and scholarship in these cities.
Date of Publication: Between 1572 and 1617
Engraver: Frans Hogenberg
Braun & Hogenberg’s Civitates Orbis Terrarum (“Cities of the World”) is a monumental six-volume atlas of urban topography compiled between 1572 and 1617. Conceived as a companion to Ortelius’s Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, it was the first comprehensive printed collection of city views and maps ever produced. The work provides a rich visual record of over 500 cities from across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas during the late Renaissance, featuring detailed bird’s-eye views, cartouches, and depictions of local inhabitants, architecture, and dress. It reflects not only geographical interest but also the growing civic pride and commercial importance of cities in the early modern period.
Georg Braun (1541–1622), a cleric and scholar from Cologne, served as the principal editor and driving force behind the Civitates. He compiled texts for the city descriptions and coordinated contributions from a wide network of cartographers and artists. His aim was both didactic and celebratory: to showcase the beauty and significance of cities around the known world.
Frans Hogenberg (c. 1535–1590), a Flemish engraver and mapmaker, was responsible for many of the atlas’s intricate engravings. He had previously collaborated with Abraham Ortelius and brought both technical skill and artistic flair to the project. Hogenberg’s meticulous visual style was essential in defining the distinctive look of the Civitates plates.
Together, Braun and Hogenberg created a work that remains an invaluable source for historians, urban scholars, and collectors today.
Upper Left Panel: WITTENBERG (WITTENBVRCGA)
A detailed planimetric view of Wittenberg, shown as a fortified island city along the Elbe River. The fortifications are precisely drawn, with bastions, gates (labeled Die Elb port, Die Rostocker port, Die Glockner port), and walls encircling the compact medieval core. At the center stands the castle church (Schlosskirche), famously associated with Martin Luther and the Reformation, alongside the university buildings, reflecting the city’s renown as a center of theological learning. The caption notes Wittenberg’s fame for its university and literary scholarship.
Upper Right Panel: FRANKFURT AN DER ODER (CIVITAS FRANCFORDIENSIS in Marchia)
Depicted as a walled riverside city, Frankfurt (on the Oder) is shown with its prominent bridge crossing the Oder River, leading to a gate flanked by towers. The city’s spired churches and defensive walls dominate the skyline, while the river bustles with boats and trade vessels, underlining Frankfurt’s position as a major commercial and educational center in the March of Brandenburg. The surrounding countryside is detailed with roads and farmland.
Lower Left Panel: WISMAR (WISMARIA)
Wismar, a key Hanseatic port city on the Baltic Sea, is shown with its skyline of steeples, merchant houses, and defensive walls, fronted by an active harbor filled with sailing ships and galleys. The depiction emphasizes the city’s role in maritime trade, with the Baltic waters alive with commerce and seafaring activity. The Latin caption identifies Wismar as part of Mecklenburg, highlighting its importance in the region’s economy and naval power.
Lower Right Panel: ROSTOCK (ROSTOCHIVM)
Rostock, also a Hanseatic city of Mecklenburg, is portrayed in a similar style to Wismar, with its dense fortified urban center, multiple tall churches, and a busy harbor scene. Ships of various sizes are shown sailing in and out, illustrating the city’s importance as a seafaring and trading hub. The Latin caption refers to Rostock as famous for its university (Academia), one of the oldest in northern Europe, reinforcing its dual role as both a port city and center of learning.
Below: View of Full sheet.
Full literal translation of the Latin from the texts on the back.
WITTENBERG
Wittenberg is a town, in our times the residence of the Dukes of Upper Saxony, also called Witikind’s Saxony, or as some say, named after Christian, Prince of Saxony. Here, Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, and Ernest the Pious, founded a university in 1502, which has flourished ever since, along with the universities of Leipzig and Tübingen, famous for their learning and ornamentation.
Erasmus of Rotterdam called it a cold place, yet Philipp Melanchthon described it as flourishing in every branch of the arts, particularly in the study of languages. Its professors were renowned throughout the Christian world, especially in theology, law, and philosophy. The gymnasium, built by Frederick the Wise, was admired everywhere.
Albertus Krantzius mentions that a certain student was accused of secretly stealing in Wittenberg, and, being found guilty, was subjected to a most shameful public punishment. The iron collar, used to shame criminals, was placed on him. They would have treated him less harshly had he been tried as a common thief, but because he was a student and because the case brought dishonor upon the academy, the punishment was made more severe.
They also had strict laws regarding immoral behavior and blasphemy, forbidding any public obscenities or lewd songs. Georgius Cedrenus writes of such customs, and anyone found corrupting virgins was punished severely, with the utmost suspicion and disgrace.
FRANKFURT AN DER ODER
Frankfurt, in the March of Brandenburg, is an excellent city, situated by the Oder River, from which it takes its name. The Oder flows around the city, nourishing its fertile lands, vineyards, and pastures, producing wine, grain, and livestock, which are in great abundance. The river connects the city to Pomerania, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea, and the nearby forests are rich in wild animals.
The city was founded and built in 1253, under the authority of John I, Margrave of Brandenburg, by Geduinus of Herzberg, at the urging of the merchant class, who wanted a place of trade at this river crossing.
The public university of Frankfurt was founded in 1506 by Elector Joachim of Brandenburg, and later enriched with privileges by Emperor Alexander VI, Pope Julius II, and Emperor Maximilian I. The city has always had a reputation for producing excellent doctors, scholars, and lawyers, known for their skill in languages and the liberal arts.
WISMAR
Wismar, a city of renowned name in the Duchy of Mecklenburg, was founded in the year 333 AD, as attested by Albertus Krantzius, who writes that the Vandals originally built the place and called it by this name. Later, Gunzelinus, a nobleman, expanded and fortified it, and under Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, the city grew even more powerful.
The city is surrounded by strong walls, moats, and defenses, and is situated by the sea, making it a stronghold and a center of maritime trade. The Saxons, upon conquering it, renamed it Cimbria, but the name of Wismar prevailed.
It is now known for its prosperous merchants and noble citizens, and the harbor is always filled with ships from various lands. The city was once under Danish rule, then returned to German hands. In more recent times, it suffered from plague, wars, and misfortune, yet remains a flourishing city.
Aesop’s fables often mention the fickleness of fortune, and Wismar has experienced its share of ups and downs. Today, it continues to grow and rebuild, though it has been wounded by pirates, invasions, and famines. Even so, it remains a city of dignity and strength.
ROSTOCK
Rostock, a maritime city bordering Saxony, is said by Ptolemy to have once belonged to the Dukes of Mecklenburg. It was first fortified by them, and grew from a fishing village into a great city. The harbor is always filled with ships, and the citizens are famous for their diligence and trade.
In earlier times, the city was subject to pirate attacks and fires, but Albertus Krantzius notes that the city has since become peaceful and prosperous. It experienced Saturn’s revolution (a reference to time and change), but now enjoys tranquility.
The city council and the university, founded in 1419, are supported by the Princes of Mecklenburg, John and Albert, as well as the Senate, and they generously provide for the professors and students. The citizens are prosperous, and the city is known for its order and discipline.