A decorative rectangular woodcut headpiece featuring symmetrical foliage, scrollwork, and a central vessel motif.

Treatise

On the Highly

Useful Inventions

and arts, which were invented

and brought to light

by the laudable

German Nation.

The First Chapter.

Concerning the first True,

Universal, and Political Inven-

tion, and the Praise of the German

Nation.

Namely, the Roman Empire original: Römischen Keyserthumb; specifically referring to the Holy Roman Empire, the central political power in Europe during this period and Monarchy, which the highly laudable German Nation [attained] through Emperor Charles the Great original: Carolum Magnum; famously known as Charlemagne (r. 768–814), whom the author claims as a native German to assert national prestige, a born German, and not through surrender original: Übergab; referring to the "Translation of the Empire" (translatio imperii), the historical concept that the Roman imperial authority was legally transferred to the Franks/Germans...