Claudius Claussön Swart

Claudius Claussön Swart, or Clavus Claudius, or Nicholas Niger, (September 14 1388-?), was a Danish geographer sometimes considered to be the first Nordic cartographer.

Related Topics:
September 14 - 1388

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It is believed he was born in the village of Salling on Island of Fünen, Denmark. When he was 25 years old, that is in 1412-13, he started to travel around Europe and shows up ten year later (1423-24) in Rome. It is believed he travelled as far up as the 70°10' N. lat. In Rome he starts a friendship with the cardinal Giordano Orsini and the pope's secretary Francesco Poggio, who togheter with others are in working to update the old roman cartography. Claudius becomes the person contributing to a more realistic description of Nordic countries, in particular Iceland and Greenland.

Related Topics:
Island of Fünen - Denmark - Rome - Lat. - Giordano Orsini - Francesco Poggio - Iceland - Greenland

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Unfortunately, most of his work (including two maps) are lost but a copy has been preserved through the German cartographers Donnus Nicholas Germanus and Henricus Martellus Germanus. Until recently, more texts have been refound in the imperial library at Vienna.

Related Topics:
Donnus Nicholas Germanus - Henricus Martellus Germanus - Vienna

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Source: Catholic Encyclopedia

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