L. Vollenbronck.

De stadsplattegronden van Jacob van Deventer. Geen militaire maar een territoriaal-politieke functie.

Historisch geografisch tijdschrift 27 (2009) 73 - 83.

Anders dan vaak gedacht hadden de stadsplattegronden die Jacob van Deventer tussen 1558 en 1573 maakte géén militair doel. Philips II, in 1555 ingezworen als landsheer der Nederlanden, bestelde de kaarten om bestuurlijke informatie te krijgen over de Nederlanden en niet per se om oorlog te voeren. Dit blijkt uit de cartografische opdrachten van Philips II, de rol van cartografie in de 16e eeuw en bestudering van de 'kaarttaal' van Jacob van Deventer.

An avant-garde table glossy: the Van Deventer maps didn't serve a military purpose

Common knowledge dictates that the famous maps made by Jacob van Deventer were created for military purposes. However, a more thorough study shows that strategic warfare probably wasn't the primary aim of the maps. Firstly, a purely military purpose is not likely: when Van Deventer started his grand project in 1558 there were no signs of rebellion yet, and once the Revolt got under way in 1566, the maps were sent to the royal library in Madrid instead of Brussels, where general Alva could have put them to good use. Secondly, 16th century maps were often created for either practical or decorative purposes. Maps of the first kind are usually selective in what's depicted, while maps of the second kind are often colourful and contain a broad range of information. Thirdly, a thorough study of the so-called 'language of the map' - especially the way in which the hinterland of the cities is depicted - shows that the maps suited a political-territorial purpose rather than simply a military one. Most likely, the bulky, detailed and colourful maps that Jacob van Deventer designed in 1558 - 1573, were created in the Habsburg rulers common tradition of self-glorification.