1779 Imperium Caroli Magni Occidentis Imperatoris...
By: John Blair
Date: 1779 (Published) London
Dimensions: 16.25 x 22 inches (41.3 x 55.9 cm)
This lovely map decorative map depicts the territories ruled by Charlemagne or Charles the Great, who was king of the Franks from 768, king of the Lombards from 774, and emperor of the Romans from 800. During the Early Middle Ages, he united the majority of western and central Europe, and this map shows the Empire of Charlemagne in the 8th Century. The map is from John Blair’s atlas, a fascinating oeuvre which was created for and dedicated to Augusta, Princes Dowager of Wales, in 1779.
The map covers the entire region which was under Charlemagne’s sway, including present-day Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and western Germany. He embarked on a mission to unite all Germanic peoples into one kingdom, and convert his subjects to Christianity. A skilled military strategist, he spent much of his reign engaged in warfare in order to accomplish his goals. In 800, Pope Leo III (750-816) crowned Charlemagne emperor of the Romans, thus effectively re-establishing some kind of order to Europe following the collapse of the Roman Empire.
Condition: This lovely hand colored map is a strong impression in A condition on watermarked paper.
Inventory #11430
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