Kemmelberg

Petrus Plancius (Pieter Platevoet) - born in Dranouter (Heuvelland, West Flanders) in 1552 - historically is best known as a talented Flemish cartographer, geographer, astronomer, nautical expert and polyglot. However, Plancius had established himself as a preacher and, indeed, was also a well-known theologian and fanatical, intolerant, dogmatic Calvinist.

Plancius' Protestant parents fled with their family to Sandwich, England. Peter studied theology, history and languages in Germany and in England. Later he received training in mathematics, astronomy, and geography - probably also in England. After completing his studies, in 1576 he became a preacher and was appointed in this regard firstly in Flanders, later in the cities of Mechelen and Leuven, and finally in Brussels for the 'Nederduitse Gereformeerde Kerk' ('Low German Reformed Church', and from 1816 'Dutch Reformed Church'), which a few years later became the public church of the Dutch Republic of the Seven United Provinces.

When Alexander Farnese, duke of Parma, took Brussels and Antwerp in 1585, the practise of the Protestant religion was prohibited in the southern Low Countries and Plancius, disguised as a soldier, fled to Amsterdam to avoid the threat of the Inquisition.

In the northern Low Countries smaller trading companies originally arose to attract venture capital to spread the risks in organising voyages of discovery. These were later placed under one (state) monopoly, the VOC.

In 1602, Johan van Oldenbarnevelt founded the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), together with Protestant refugees from the southern Low Countries; including Peter Plancius, Dirck van Os, Jodocus Hondius and Isaac Le Maire.

The States General granted a patent to the VOC, including the sole right to trade with Asia for twenty-one years.

Plancius' was particularly involved in the VOC by producing more than a hundred land, sea and celestial charts with the ultimate goal of spreading Calvinism worldwide. Thanks to his work as a cartographer, the Dutch soon supplanted the Portuguese as the dominant power in the East. He himself never went on any long journeys, but instead he taught skippers and helmsmen in the homeland.

Plancius' best-known map is the world map, 'Orbis Terrarum', one of his earliest productions (1590).

The world map, 'Orbis Terrarum', by Petrus Plancius, 1590.

Various versions of this map are known. According to some sources its first version is believed to be a copy of one of the very earliest Portuguese maps. How Plancius got this map (and others) remains unknown. The story goes that - during his flight from Brussels - Plancius took then-still-secret Portuguese nautical charts with him. Later he would publish these charts in Amsterdam.

According to other sources, his world map is based on the world map by Rumoldus Mercator (Rumold De Kremer, son of Gerard), dated to 1587.

The fact is that the so-called 'Compagnie van Verre', a peaceful spice tradership which would later merge with several other trade associations to form the VOC, purchased twenty-five secret, detailed Portuguese nautical charts in Amsterdam via Plancius and his publisher and printer, Cornelis Claesz. Claesz originated from Leuven and, like Plancius, had fled to the north as a Flemish Protestant. With these charts, and the help of Plancius himself, this trade company then drew up a travel route to the Indian Archipelago.

As evidenced by a charter which was issued by the Dutch States-General in 1592, Cornelis Claesz was authorised to print or draw all twenty-five maps, and those maps were obtained by citing Dutch cartographer Petrus Plancius of 'Bartolomeu Lasso, cosmographer and navigation master of the king of Spain'. Bartolomeu Lasso was Portuguese...

The famous series of nautical charts which Plancius drew based on Lasso's work was ground-breaking. These accurate maps were an important stepping stone to the voyages of discovery which were initiated by Plancius, and towards the further development of Amsterdam's naval cartography in the seventeenth century. These are the first maps to be used by the Dutch on their travels to other continents. The prosperous colonial past of today's Netherlands is largely due to Plancius' cartography.

Plancius also drew up accurate astronomical charts which were based on notes written up by sailors, and which he subsequently published. In addition, he also made globes and navigational tools for helmsmen, such as astrolabes and cross-staffs.

In 1607, Willem Usselincx - originating from Antwerp - founded the Dutch West India Company (WIC) with Plancius. But the entry into force of the Twelve Years Truce of Antwerp (1609-1621) meant that the WIC did not gain a monopoly in the western hemisphere - North America and South America and West Africa - until 1621.

The politico-military intention of the WIC was liberating the southern Low Countries from the Spaniards by engaging in privateering and thereby disrupting the Spanish positions in the Americas, the East-Indies and the Atlantic, by promoting trade in the 'New Netherland' region in northern America through creation of a local colony, and finally by populating it with Protestant refugees from the southern Low Countries. The WIC did not initially focus on slave trade because at the time Calvinists found it objectionable. Soon, however, the WIC participated in the triangular trade between Europe, America and Africa in which slaves were also involved.

As a result, the founding of New Amsterdam (later New York) in the New Netherland region was prepared by Usselincx, animated by Plancius, executed by the WIC and practically realised by a group of Walloon refugees under the lead of Pierre (Peter) Minuit who bought Manhattan in 1626. Manhattan indeed was part of a Walloon political-military plan.

Although Plancius contributed in the broadest sense to the Dutch northern provinces becoming a world power in economic and maritime terms with possessions in all continents, for himself everything was in the service of his faith - dogmatic Calvinism. It is largely thanks to him that Calvinism conquered the northern Low Countries. Additionally, he also planned to convert the southern Low Countries, but he could never return to his homeland. Plancius wished to spread his faith worldwide, even in unknown territories which he diligently tried to map.

Naturally, commercial interests also played a role, but less so for Plancius; he was more preacher-scientist than merchant.

Plancius assisted both Willem Barentsz and Henry Hudson in their expeditions. Cape Plancius is listed among the names of areas discovered by Barentsz on Nova Zembla. The Dutch movie 'Nova Zembla' (2011) tells the story of Barentsz, with Flemish actor Jan Decleir as Peter Plancius in one of the leading roles. Plancius gave his name to a former expedition-ship - the MS Plancius - which is still sailing today as a small cruise ship in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Peter Plancius named twelve constellations, including the most important one, the 'Dove' (Columba).

For Plancius' exceptional merits in cartography, navigation and his geographical, hydrographic, and astronomical expertise, the Royal Dutch Geographical Society (KNAG) has been awarding the Plancius Medal since 1913, which gives important Dutch geographers a chance to distinguish themselves.

Peter Plancius was also an ally of Prince Maurice of Orange, son of William. He died in Amsterdam in 1622.

On the Planciussquare in Dranouter a memorial plaque was installed to mark his life and ground-breaking achievements.

Commemorative monument Petrus Plancius, Dranouter.

Remarkable Stories: Hitler and the Kemmelberg

 

REFERENCES:
D'haene Koen, Een slimme jongen die goed kan vertellen, biografie over het leven van Petrus Plancius uit Dranouter. Aflevering 248 VWS-cahiers van de Vereniging van West-Vlaamse Schrijvers (VWS), 2008) (in Dutch)

Siegfried Debaeke, Hitler, soldaat in de Westhoek (2012) (in Dutch)

EXTERNAL LINKS:
Petrus Plancius - Eerste serie kaarten (1590) (in Dutch)
400 jaar Petrus Plancius (in Dutch)

RELATED HISTORY FILES LINKS:
Spanish Netherlands
Modern Belgium
Modern Netherlands

 

Text copyright © Archeo Kemmelberg. An original feature for the History Files: Kemmelberg.