Columbus's Imago Mundi

Columbus's Imago Mundi

Christopher Columbus trusted in this text more than all the other suggestions of his contemporaries: the astronomical-geographical text Imago Mundi by Pierre d’Ailly. The most famous work by this significant French theologian from the year 1410 had not been at the cutting edge in Columbus’ day for a long time. The false calculations by the explorer were a result, as was the discovery of a new continent. Pierre d’Ailly’s Imago Mundi is nonetheless a wonderful and impressive testimonial to the cosmographic knowledge of the early 15th century, and the personal copy of Christopher Columbus with his notes is truly unique!

Columbus’ Gorgeous Edition

The edition of the Imago Mundi text from the Biblioteca Capitular y Colombina in Seville was printed ca. 1483 in Leuven in modern Belgium. The printer was Johann von Paderborn, one of the first printers in Leuven and in Flanders as a whole. Pierre d’Ailly’s magnum opus is recorded on 288 pages measuring 28 x 21 cm. Subdivided into 18 chapters or tractates, each illustrated with gorgeous and informative drawings, it offers a terrific overview of the astrological-geographical wisdom of the early 15th century.

A Witness to Historical Events

The author of this work was Pierre d’Ailly (1350/1–1420), a significant French theologian and cardinal. D’Ailly, inter alia, participated in the disputes of the Western Schism, the Council of Constance, and the inquisition of the reformer Jan Hus. As a result, he was a witness to the most significant historic events of his time. Additionally, he composed numerous works of a mystic nature and displayed his deep interest in astrology. His most famous work is nevertheless the astronomical-geographical text Imago Mundi from 1410. This is compiled from various sources from Antiquity and the Middle Ages and contains tractates on the ordering of the cosmos and the Earth along with a description of the three continents that were known at that time.

The Idea of the Indian Expedition

The fact that this was the personal copy of Christopher Columbus is of even greater historical significance. The important explorer furnished the book with notes from his own hand, in addition to some comments left in the book by his son Hernando. The numerous comments suggest just how intensely the explorer grappled with the text of the Imago Mundi. The text had a measurable influence on the journeys of exploration and gave Columbus – as is indicated in the research – his initial idea for an expedition to India. Nonetheless, Columbus relied more on the already 80 year old and outdated information of D’Ailly than on contemporary references, to his detriment, and drifted off course as a result. Yet, this led to one of the most important events in world history: the discovery of the Americas!