Georg Braun (1541–1622) was a German topographer, cartographer, and Catholic cleric based in Cologne. He is best known as the principal editor of the monumental six-volume atlas “Civitates Orbis Terrarum,” published between 1572 and 1617. This atlas contains 546 detailed bird’s-eye views, prospects, and maps of cities across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. Braun managed the project by commissioning artists, acquiring maps, and writing explanatory texts, aiming to provide a comprehensive visual record of early modern urban centers. His work complemented Abraham Ortelius’ “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” by focusing on cities rather than geographic world maps. “Civitates Orbis Terrarum” was widely used by monarchs, merchants, military strategists, and scholars, influencing urban cartography and historical documentation for over a century. Braun died as dean of the church St. Maria ad Gradus in Cologne, where he had served as a canon for nearly four decades.
