Weimar map
Encyclopedia
The Weimar map is an anonymous 15th C. Italian
portolan chart
, held by the Grand Ducal Library
of Weimar
. Although frequently dated as 1424, most historians believe it was probably composed a half-century later. The author is unknown, although said to be a member of the Freducci family of cartographers of Ancona
, most probably Conte di Ottomano Freducci. Faint and fragile, the Weimar map is rarely photographed and has been hard to decipher.
, tentatively dated the map as early as 1424. However, in subsequent correspondence with the Weimar librarian, Humboldt revised his estimation of the date as late as 1481 or 1491, on account of it containing features that were probably copied from later portolans.
A later examination by Walter Ruge (1904) read the legend more expansively as "Contes he........conposuit ancone anno dñi mcccclx...", with the significant addition of the LX to the date bringing it forward a half-century (in Ruge's estimation to the 1470s). Ruge also contended that the "he" and the large space after it is enough to fit hectomanni Fredutijs, thereby proposing its author was the cartographer Conte di Ottomano Freducci of Ancona
(fl. 1497-1539), author of the 1497 Wolfenbüttel
map. However, Heinrich Winter (1938), one of the few scholars to have had direct access to the fragile map, believes Humboldt's original 1424 date has merit and casts doubt on Ruge's identification of its author, although reserving the possibility that it might have been made by another member of the Freducci family. In his review, Cortesão sides with Ruge and suggests the date of composion was sometime between 1460 and 1469, either by Conte di Ottomano or one of his relatives. More recently, Astengo also says the attribution to Conte di Ottomano "seems reasonable" and that the dating can be anywhere between 1460 and 1499.
(Mediterranean and Black Seas) that also covers the Atlantic to the Baltic sea.
The islands of the Madeira
archipelago are depicted and inscribed as INsule fortunate sancti brandani (the mythical islands of St. Brendan
). Islands that seem like the Azores are depicted and named as (corvi) marini, I conilli, San gior(gio), Isola de uentura, colonbi, Isole de bra.ill, chapraria and louo. It is notable that bra.il, presumed to be the mythical Brasil island, is located in this central Atlantic cluster, and not (as is usual in early maps) west of Ireland.
On the extreme left, partially cut off by the narrow neck of the map, is the legendary large Antillia
island. Although its lower part is severed, the label Antilia is clear; there are also indications of cities whose faint letters are evocative of Grazioso Benincasa's maps., and a small legend which has been variously read as "Sebil" or, more probably, "Septa" (for the Seven Cities)., Of its companion islands, Satanazes
is shown in full (spelled Salvagio here), and there also seems to be a tiny fragment of Royllo
and traces of a legend for Tanmar. If the Weimar map were truly made in 1424, then it would be the first map to depict Antillia cartographically (or at least place it on an equal footing with the 1424 Pizzigano Map
).
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
portolan chart
Portolan chart
Portolan charts are navigational maps based on realistic descriptions of harbours and coasts. They were first made in the 14th century in Italy, Portugal and Spain...
, held by the Grand Ducal Library
Duchess Anna Amalia Library
The Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, Thuringia, Germany, houses a major collection of German literature and historical documents...
of Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
. Although frequently dated as 1424, most historians believe it was probably composed a half-century later. The author is unknown, although said to be a member of the Freducci family of cartographers of Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
, most probably Conte di Ottomano Freducci. Faint and fragile, the Weimar map is rarely photographed and has been hard to decipher.
Date and Author
The exact date and author of the map is contentious. The faint legend has been read (narrowly) as "Contes..........conposuit ancone anno dñi mcccc...". One of the first to examine it, Alexander von HumboldtAlexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
, tentatively dated the map as early as 1424. However, in subsequent correspondence with the Weimar librarian, Humboldt revised his estimation of the date as late as 1481 or 1491, on account of it containing features that were probably copied from later portolans.
A later examination by Walter Ruge (1904) read the legend more expansively as "Contes he........conposuit ancone anno dñi mcccclx...", with the significant addition of the LX to the date bringing it forward a half-century (in Ruge's estimation to the 1470s). Ruge also contended that the "he" and the large space after it is enough to fit hectomanni Fredutijs, thereby proposing its author was the cartographer Conte di Ottomano Freducci of Ancona
Ancona
Ancona is a city and a seaport in the Marche region, in central Italy, with a population of 101,909 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona and of the region....
(fl. 1497-1539), author of the 1497 Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
map. However, Heinrich Winter (1938), one of the few scholars to have had direct access to the fragile map, believes Humboldt's original 1424 date has merit and casts doubt on Ruge's identification of its author, although reserving the possibility that it might have been made by another member of the Freducci family. In his review, Cortesão sides with Ruge and suggests the date of composion was sometime between 1460 and 1469, either by Conte di Ottomano or one of his relatives. More recently, Astengo also says the attribution to Conte di Ottomano "seems reasonable" and that the dating can be anywhere between 1460 and 1499.
Features
The Weimar map is a typical 15th C. Italian portolan chartPortolan chart
Portolan charts are navigational maps based on realistic descriptions of harbours and coasts. They were first made in the 14th century in Italy, Portugal and Spain...
(Mediterranean and Black Seas) that also covers the Atlantic to the Baltic sea.
The islands of the Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
archipelago are depicted and inscribed as INsule fortunate sancti brandani (the mythical islands of St. Brendan
St. Brendan's Island
Situated somewhere west of Northern Africa, St. Brendan’s Isle is a phantom island often regarded as myth, since, unless it is the so-called "Eighth Canary Island" known since time immemorial to the Spanish and Portuguese authorities as San Borondón, only a few have claimed to have seen it.In the...
). Islands that seem like the Azores are depicted and named as (corvi) marini, I conilli, San gior(gio), Isola de uentura, colonbi, Isole de bra.ill, chapraria and louo. It is notable that bra.il, presumed to be the mythical Brasil island, is located in this central Atlantic cluster, and not (as is usual in early maps) west of Ireland.
On the extreme left, partially cut off by the narrow neck of the map, is the legendary large Antillia
Antillia
Antillia is a legendary island that was reputed, during the 15th century age of exploration, to lie in the Atlantic Ocean, far to the west of Portugal and Spain...
island. Although its lower part is severed, the label Antilia is clear; there are also indications of cities whose faint letters are evocative of Grazioso Benincasa's maps., and a small legend which has been variously read as "Sebil" or, more probably, "Septa" (for the Seven Cities)., Of its companion islands, Satanazes
Satanazes
The island of Satanazes is a legendary island once thought to be located in the Atlantic Ocean, and depicted on many 15th C. maps.- Cartographic depiction :...
is shown in full (spelled Salvagio here), and there also seems to be a tiny fragment of Royllo
Royllo
Royllo , is a legendary island that was once thought to be located in the Atlantic Ocean. Probably identical with the island originally called Ymana in the 1424 Pizzigano Map. The island is usually depicted in many 15th C. maps as a small island located slightly to the west of the much larger...
and traces of a legend for Tanmar. If the Weimar map were truly made in 1424, then it would be the first map to depict Antillia cartographically (or at least place it on an equal footing with the 1424 Pizzigano Map
Pizzigano Map
The Pizzigano Map is a portolan chart dated to 1424 and attributed to the 15th C. Venetian cartographer Zuane Pizzigano...
).
Sources
- Astengo, Corradino (2007) "The Renaissance chart tradition in the Mediterranean", in D. Woodward, editor, The History of Cartography, Vol. 3. Cartography in the European Renaissance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Babcock, W.H. (1917) "Indications of Visits of White Men to America before Columbus", in F.W. Hodge, editor, Proceedings of the Nineteenth International Congress of Americanists, Washington. p.469-78.
- Babcock, W.H. (1922) Legendary islands of the Atlantic: a study in medieval geography New York: American Geographical Society. online
- Caraci, G. (1953) "The Italian Cartographers of the Benincasa and Freducci Families and the So-Called Borgiana Map of the Vatican", Imago Mundi, Vol. 10 (1953), pp. 23–45
- Cortesão, Armando (1954) The Nautical Chart of 1424 and the Early Discovery and Cartographical Representation of America. Coimbra and Minneapolis. (Portuguese trans. "A Carta Nautica de 1424", published in 1975, Esparsos, Coimbra. vol. 3)
- Alexander von HumboldtAlexander von HumboldtFriedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
(1837) Examen critique de l'histoire de la géographie du nouveau continent et des progrès de l'astronomie nautique aux quinzième et seizième siècles, Paris: Gide, vol. II.
- Ruge, W. (1904) "Aelteres kartographisches Material in deutschen Bibliotheken: Erster und zweiter Reseibericht", Nachrichten von der Königl. Gesselschaft der Wissenschafte zu Göttingen: Philologish-historische Klasse, vol.1 Göttingen: Horstmann. online
- Winter, H. (1938) "Notes on the Weimar Portolan" The Geographical Journal, Vol. 92 (2), p. 150-52.