Chilonium, vulgo Kyell. (Kiel)

Bird's-eye view of Kiel by Braun and Hogenberg.

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT: Chilonium, commonly called Kiel, an elegant old city in Holstein on an isthmus in the Baltic Sea, noteworthy for a situation favourable to trade and commerce and the annual gatherings of the Cimbrian nobility.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "Where the Belt meets the Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein and Schleswig, it has numerous bends forming narrow necks of land notably surrounded by water on both sides, which the ancient Greeks called an isthmus. Between these necks of land thrusts the sea, to the great advantage of the residents, and it provides merchants and their sea-going vessels with safe refuge where they can recover from the hardships sustained at sea. Kiel also provides an amenity of this kind and it is used in the same way. It is an old city, well supplied and almost entirely surrounded by water. Its name derives from "Kiell" or "Keyl", which means chisel in German."

From an elevated vantage point and looking south, this view shows the island situation of the city systematically laid out on Kiel Fjord and surrounded by the Kleiner Kiel and pasture land. The centre is dominated by the Gothic church of St Nicolas (A). finished in 1240; it was joined by the church of the Holy Spirit (D) in the 14th century. The Holsten gate in the south led to the mainland. Founded by Count Adolf IV between 1233 and 1242, Kiel became a free city in 1242. Lacking links with inland waterways or good overland routes to larger cities, Kiel attained only regional importance as a trading port. One indication of modest circumstances is the dilapidated condition of the fortifications along the fjord. (Taschen)

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Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 2054, State 1; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg, p.307.