Michael van Langren

Michael van Langren was the youngest member of a family of Dutch cartographers.

In 1592, the States General granted the Van Langren family a monopoly in the production of globes, which led to quarrels with Jodocus Hondius.

Arnold moved with his family, which included his sons Jacob and Michael, from Amsterdam to Antwerp around the year 1609, during the truce between the Spanish crown and the States General.

From the Spanish administration he got the title of Sphérographe de leurs Altesses and was awarded a grant of 300 livres towards the expense of his move.

He would serve as the Royal Cosmographer and Mathematician to King Philip IV of Spain, and was helped in his work by the patronage of Isabella Clara Eugenia.