1680 / 1700 Insula Candia Ejusque Fortificatio
DESCRIPTION
An exceptional seventeenth-century map of Crete, depicting the island and its elaborate coastal fortifications in the aftermath of one of the longest and most consequential sieges in Mediterranean history.
The map appeared is Frederik de Wit's "Atlas Major" published out of Amsterdam in 1710. Richly colored and surrounded by six detailed plans of fortified towns and strongholds, the map presents Crete's strategic importance during the centuries-long struggle between Venice and the Ottoman Empire. It draws upon the military surveys and fortification plans associated with the French engineer Sébastien de Pontault de Beaulieu, whose work documented important European and Mediterranean strongholds.
Numerous sailing ships and war galleys occupy the surrounding Mediterranean, while two winged cherubs support the title banner. An elaborate floral border encloses the map and its six inset illustrations, including the fortified cities of Canea (Chania), Candia (Heraklion), and Retimo (Rethymno), together with the strongholds of Spinalonga, Suda, and Thine.
The Siege of Candia and the Ottoman Conquest
Crete had been a Venetian possession since the early thirteenth century and served as an important military and commercial outpost in the eastern Mediterranean. In 1645, Ottoman forces invaded the island, beginning the Cretan War, which continued until 1669. The fortified capital of Candia endured a siege lasting more than two decades before surrendering to Ottoman forces. The fall of Candia effectively ended Venetian control over most of Crete, although Venice retained several offshore fortresses for decades afterward.
Dating the Map
The engraved number 23 in the upper right corner identifies the map's original plate number, dating to the seventeenth century. The handwritten number 85 corresponds to its placement in a later compilation of Frederik de Wit's Atlas Maior, suggesting this impression was included in an atlas assembled around 1700, as suggested by the Danish Maritime Museum.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622