Dithmarschen Costumes. Diversi Dithmarsorum et vicinarum gentium habitus.

A fine antique engraving of costumed figures from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', it shows the dignitaries and peasants of Dithmarschen.
In the 15/16th centuries Dithmarschen was a peasants republic and now is a district in Schleswig-Holstein near Hamburg, Germany. An example from the: Urbium Praeipuarum Mundi Theatrum Quintum Auctore Georgio Braunio Agrippinate. Part 5. Köln, 1596.
In medieval times the marshland villages of Dithmarschen enjoyed remarkable autonomy. Neighbouring princes often tried to bring Dithmarschen under their control. In the 15th century the Ditmarsians confederated in a peasants' republic. Several times neighbouring princely rulers, accompanied by their knights and mercenaries tried to subdue the independent ministate to feudalism, however, without success.
In 1319, Gerhard III was repelled in the Battle of Wöhrden. After Eric IV, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg had raided Dithmarschen, the Ditmarsians blamed his son-in-law, Albert II, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg, of complicity, who then used this as a pretext for his own unsuccessful conquest attempt in 1403, dying during the campaign from inflicted injuries.
In 1468, Dithmarschen allied with Lübeck to protect their common interest as to commerce and containing the spreading feudalism in the region. Ditmarsians had established trade with Livonia and neighbouring Baltic destinations since the 15th century, based on the Hanseatic obligations and privileges since the pact with Lübeck. Both parties renewed their alliance several times and it thus lasted until Dithmarschen's final defeat and Dano-Holsatian annexation in 1559.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "Dithmarschen is a region bordering on Holstein; it takes his name from its own dialect. For as it is not forested like Holstein but is wet and boggy, it is called Dithmarschen after its marshes, namely its swamps, bogs and wetlands."
The plate with its three rows of costumed figures, complements the information on the history of Dithmarschen that is given in Braun's text. The peasant's republic of Dithmarschen lay in Schleswig-Holstein between the North Sea, the Elbe and Eider Rivers. In 1447, Dithmarschen's law was drawn up and the region became an independent, prosperous state.
Its fertile marshlands were protected from flooding by dikes, and the peasants farming the land developed a pronounced sense of separate identity, bolstered by the fact that numerous attempts to conquer their territory failed. Not until 1559 was Dithmarschen conquered and divided up between the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Hadersleben and the King of Denmark.
The costumed figures illustrate, from left to right, armed men, married and unmarried women from Dithmarschen and married and unmarried women from Eiderstedt, followed by dress styles from Eiderstedt, Ockholm, Nordstrand and Haderstedt and finally by costumes from the Islands of Föhr, Sildia and Stapelholm. (Taschen)

Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 41:1.5