[Roman Empire] Imago Romani Imperii.

Description

Girolamo Andre Martignoni’s Imago Romani Imperii is an intricate thematic map that depicts the geography and history of the Roman Empire. By blending geography with critical historical events in a clear and structured manner, the map acts as a visual timeline designed to help the viewer grasp the Roman Empire’s profound influence on European civilization. In doing so, Martignoni has created one of the most unique historical charts we have encountered.

The map contains two central depictions of the Mediterranean basin, which function as the heart of the design, symbolizing the empire’s vast dominion over Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The map’s circular layout is structured around these twin Mediterranean maps, with historical divisions and geographical expansions radiating outward in a complex and organized fashion.

This is the second state of the map, notable for the addition of bird’s-eye-views of Constantinople, Madrid, Vienna, Rome, Paris, and London in the oval frames surrounding the central imagery. Each of these cities played a central role in the historical development of Europe, emphasizing the Roman Empire’s lasting influence on the continent’s political and cultural progress. Martignoni thus links the Roman Empire with the evolving modern European empires, implying continuity between the ancient past and the early 18th-century world.

The broader map is further enhanced by its decorative borders, which feature coats of arms and heraldic symbols representing the prominent territories and regions once under Roman dominion. Six larger coats of arms are fully detailed in this second state, while an abundance of smaller but blank armorial shields anticipates further updates in future states.

Martignoni designed his map as a learning tool for understanding the complex history of Europe from the Fall of Rome until the dawn of the 18th century. In the upper register, Europe is shown during the height of the Roman Empire, with ancient Roman names marking the countries. Surrounding this central map are six islands, symbolizing key regions of the Empire: Greece and Turkey, Spain, Germany and Switzerland, Italy, France, and Britain. These islands are connected by rivers and tributaries, which flow outward and represent the subdivisions and spread of Roman authority throughout the known world.

In the lower register, Martignoni contrasts with a contemporary view in which Europe is divided according to 18th-century political boundaries. The rivers are overlaid with concentric circles, symbolizing the passage of centuries and the historical evolution of each country after Rome. This system of rivers and tributaries and the visual layers of historical progression create a narrative flow that explains how nations developed post-Empire.

A product of the Age of Enlightenment

The compilation of Imago Romani Imperii occurred during a period of renewed interest in the legacy of Ancient Rome, particularly within Italy. This period, commonly known as the Age of Enlightenment, was marked by a deep fascination with antiquity, as scholars and artists sought to rediscover and reinterpret classical knowledge and culture. Italy, as the former heart of the Roman Empire, was central to this revival. Scholars and rulers alike viewed Rome as a source of ancient wisdom and a model for governance, law, and cultural achievement that could inspire contemporary political and intellectual development.

This interest in Antiquity was partly fueled by the rise of humanism in the previous centuries and the resulting emphasis on classical texts and historical studies. In the early 18th century, Italian thinkers continued to build on these traditions, seeing themselves as inheritors of the Roman legacy. Cities such as Rome, Florence, and Turin became hubs for scholarly activities that focused on collecting, studying, and publishing works about the Roman Empire. Maps like Martignoni’s Imago Romani Imperii served as educational tools and visual representations of Rome’s enduring influence on European civilization.

Politically, there was a strong desire to link contemporary rulers and states with the grandeur of the Roman Empire. The Papal States, still a significant force in Italy, and other Italian principalities emphasized their connection to ancient Rome to assert their authority and cultural relevance. In particular, Rome’s status as a spiritual and historical center made it a focal point for this classical revival. The notion that modern Europe was the successor to the Roman Empire was a powerful idea, and this map illustrates how the Roman past continued to shape the identity of European nations.

This interest in the Roman Empire also had a practical dimension. As Europe’s emerging empires sought to expand their territories, they considered Rome’s imperial system a precedent. For scholars, cartographers, and rulers, understanding the rise and fall of Rome was vital in navigating the complex political landscape of Europe. Martignoni’s map nevertheless reflects a growing European enthusiasm for historical cartography, which had gained momentum since the late Renaissance. Maps were no longer purely functional geographic tools; they became visual narratives that conveyed historical, political, and cultural information. Using Latin place names and ancient symbols on Martignoni’s map emphasized the continuity between past and present, aligning the ancient empire with the modern nation-states that had emerged by the 18th century.

Census

This is the second state of the map, published in Turin in 1721. The first state was published three years earlier.

The second state is identifiable by the city views and heraldic shields discussed above. The second state also includes an inscription at the bottom which reads “Barth. Joseph Tasniere sculp. Taurini 1718”.

Both states of the map are scarce to rare, with the OCLC noting only a single institutional example of the second state in the National Library of Australia (no. 1121075882). Similarly, only a single example of the first state from 1718 is listed, held by the Royal Library in the Netherlands (no. 66774990).