Regni Daniae

An attractive 18th century map of Denmark and adjacent territories.

This beautifully detailed antique map of Denmark and its surrounding regions, published by the Homann Heirs c. 1730, serves as a snapshot of the political landscape following the Great Northern War (1700-1721). While Danish territorial ambitions in Pomerania and Southern Sweden were permanently curtailed by the conflict, the map underscores Denmark’s enduring grip on The Sound. Control of this vital waterway – the primary conduit between the North Sea and the Baltic – allowed the Danish Crown to maintain a critical source of royal revenue.

The engraving utilizes attractive hand color to distinguish the various administrative regions, islands, and duchies within the Danish sovereignty. A fascinating array of military garrisons, ecclesiastical centers, and market towns are labeled throughout. Of particular interest are the royal capital of Copenhagen, the strategically vital Cronenberg (Kronberg Castle), and the Duchy of Holstein, a political oddity. The careful shading of the sandbanks surrounding the Danish archipelago highlights the treacherous nature of Baltic navigation and North Sea navigation.

The elaborate title cartouche in the upper right functions as a sophisticated piece of Baroque branding. The Royal Coat of Arms is supported by two Wild Men, mythical figures that represented the primordial ways of the ‘Old World’ of Norse mythology. The livestock in the background provided the industrial engine behind Denmark’s overseas trade, in which it was world-famous for its cattle and horses.