Saxon land table from 1566
The Saxon Land Chart from 1566 is one of the earliest detailed maps of Saxony. Only a few wall maps from this period are still preserved today - this one is even hand-drawn and of very high quality. The object is therefore a real attraction that you can view virtually at any time.
The theologian and cartographer Hiob Magdeburg (1518-1595) produced the Duringian and Meisnian Land Tables on behalf of the Elector August of Saxony. The work shows the so-called Wettin lands, i.e. the fiefdom of the Wettin noble family at that time. The wall map served especially for representative purposes.
The map painting is already documented in the oldest Kunstkammer inventory of 1587. It is framed by a 10-centimetre-wide frieze with 46 portraits of princes, which probably correspond to those in the Saxon genealogical book. Saxon genealogical book in the Saxon genealogical book.
The geographical area depicted extends as far north as Magdeburg, Zossen and Teupitz, as far east as Sommerfeld (Lubsko) and Zittau, as far south as the Eger (Ohre) and as far west as Salzungen and Goslar. Over 500 settlements can be traced on the map. These were entered on the map with vignettes of different sizes according to their administrative importance and taking into account the number of inhabitants. The head librarian of the Electoral Public Library at the time, Johann Christoph Adelung, described the work as "very complete" in 1796.
During the Second World War, the map suffered severe water damage, but was laboriously restored.
How to use our offer
The Sächsische Landtafel is accessible as a digital copy online in the Map Forum. You can also find it in the SLUB catalogue.
The original can only be seen in the context of exhibitions. There is currently no corresponding date planned.
Feel free to contact us! Simply book an individual consultation via the knowledge bar. Contact Dominik Stoltz Tel.: +49 351 4677-530 E-mail: dominik.stoltz@slub-dresden.de