A 5 x 5 meter map of Bavaria, commissioned by Duke Albrecht in 1554, defined the professional trajectory of Philipp Apian. By meticulously surveying regions including Oberbayern, Niederbayern, Oberpfalz, Salzburg, and Eichstätt over seven years, he established a standard of geographical accuracy that remained the official benchmark for the territory until the 19th century.
Early Academic Development
Born Philipp Bienewitz in Ingolstadt in 1531, he was the son of the mathematician, astronomer, and cartographer Petrus Apianus. His formal education began early, as he entered the University of Ingolstadt to study mathematics at age eleven. By age 18, he expanded his academic horizons through studies in Burgundy, Paris, and Bourges, eventually returning to Ingolstadt in 1552 to assume a professorship.
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Tasked with providing mapping for Johannes Aventinus’s Bairische Chronik, Apian produced his large-scale chart with a ratio of 1:45.000, which Bartel Refinger subsequently coloured. This original work was housed in the residence library starting in 1563 until its destruction by fire in 1782. In 1566, Apian commissioned Jost Amman to produce the Bairische Landtafeln, a set of 24 tables at a 1:144.000 scale, which were issued in 1568 and gained wide recognition through publication by Abraham Ortelius.
Professional Displacement
Religious and political conflicts significantly shaped his later career. As a Protestant, Apian was forced to depart from Ingolstadt in 1569 due to the influence of the Jesuits and the Counter-Reformation. He secured a position at the University of Tübingen, where he lectured for 14 years. However, his tenure ended in 1583 when he refused to renounce his adherence to Calvinism. He remained in Tübingen until his death in 1589 at the age of 58.
Fast facts
- Born: 1531, Ingolstadt
- Died: 1589, Tübingen
- Citizenship: Germany
- Occupations: Physician, mathematician, geographer, university teacher, cartographer
- Primary Employers: University of Ingolstadt, University of Tübingen
- Major Cartographic Work: Bairische Landtafeln (1568)
- Map Scale: 1:144.000
Questions readers ask
What is the primary significance of his mapping work?
His 1568 Bairische Landtafeln served as the official map of Bavaria for centuries and were considered so accurate they were reportedly consulted by Napoléon Bonaparte.
Why did he leave the University of Tübingen?
He was dismissed from his teaching position in 1583 because he refused to negate his Calvinist beliefs.
Achievements
- Recorded as mathematician, cartographer and university teacher
