Hessian Chronica

In 1605, a chronicle was published by the master builder, engineer, block-cutter, engraver, draftsman, topographer, and military theorist Wilhelm Dilich (born Scheffer), who described himself as “Geographus and Historicus” and had been in the employ of Landgrave Moritz of Hesse-Kassel since 1592. It is prized not only for its historic worth but is also of outstanding importance due to its pictorial decoration, the numerous engravings of Hessian towns, castles, palaces and monasteries, its traditional costumes, portraits of princes and maps, the subtleties and ingenuity of which are reminiscent of Dürer and Aldegrever. The first part describes the entire country between the rivers Werra, Kinzig, Main, Rhine, and Lahn while the second part covers the history of the country according to the contemporary state of knowledge including portraits of Hessian princes. 126 cityscapes, 7 single-page maps, 6 double-page maps, and 18 portraits/costume illustrations illustrate this splendid codex.