Martina Plantin
Marriage and printing career
Marriage and printing career
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In 1570, she married [Jan Moretus](/wiki/Jan_Moretus "Jan Moretus") (1542–1610\), who worked for her father beginning in 1557, at 14 years of age. Plantin's father and husband ran the printing business on an industrial scale, which was revolutionary at the time. The business reached its peak between 1574 and 1576\. With 80 employees and 22 printing presses, it was the largest printing business in the world, however its success dwindled significantly to 16 employees and four presses by the time of Christophe Plantin's death. There were two printing shops, one in Antwerp and another in [Leiden](/wiki/Leiden "Leiden"). Moretus, who was the director and played a significant role in the success of the printing business, inherited the business, *Officina Plantiniana* Antwerp location after Christopher Plantin's death.

The business increased over time and had seven printing presses by the time of Moretus' death in 1610, after which Plantin was the nominal head and owner of the printing business from 1610 to 1614, when she stopped all business activities. She is one of the authors of *Biblia sacra: quid in hac editione, à theologis louaniensibus praestitum sit, paulo pòst indicatur* (1584 / 1590\) and Catechimvs Romanvs, ex decreto Concilii Tridentini, \& Pii V. Pontificis Maximi iussu primùm editus (1611\).

Plantin and Moretus had five daughters and six sons. Plantin, through her marriage to Moretus, was considered to be the head of the printing dynasty that lasted for more than three centuries. Her sons, [Balthasar](/wiki/Balthasar_I_Moretus "Balthasar I Moretus") and [Jan](/wiki/Jan_II_Moretus "Jan II Moretus"), inherited the printing business and bookshop.


How many employees did the printing business have at the time of Christophe Plantin's death?