M. K. Radvila map in Middle Europe mapping context of the XVII century

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the assumption and situation which determined the creation of M. K. Radvila map. The map was created in the XVII century, which includes early cartography period in Lithuania, i. e. the XVI–XVIII centuries. The map satisfied the requirements of detailed cartographic works for administrative and military purpose. M. K. Radvila map was based on abundant terrain measurements made during Valack reform, data of citizen inventory and early cartographic works. M. K. Radvila made map distinguished with its high level of precision. The average quarter fault of the coordinated points position to geographical latitude has reached only m φ = ± 13.5’, and in geographical longitude it was only m λ = ± 13.8’. The comparison of cartometrical data shows that M. K. Radvila map was more detailed and precise than units made later in the XVII century or even in XVIII century, consisting of Middle and Eastern Europe. In the middle and second half of the XVII century M. K. Radvila map was widely used for cartography of Eastern Europe: Johann Pleitner “Smolenscum urbus...” (1634), Guillaume le Vasseur de Beauplan “Nova totius Regni Poloniae Magnigne Ducatus Lithuaniae” (1651), Nicolas Sanson d’Abbeville “Les Estates de la Couronne de Pologne...” (1655) and “Theatre de la guerre des Courones...” (1705), Hessel Gerritsz “Tabula Russia” (1614), Cornelis Visscher “Europa” (1685), Carel Allard “Regni Poloniae, Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae...” (1697), Jan Neprecki “Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae...” (1749), Johan Kanter “Regni Poloniae, Magni Ducatus Lithuaniae...” (1770), Giovanni Antonio Bartolomeo Rizzi Zannoni “Carte de la Plogne divisee...” (1772). For a while M. K. Radvila map was forgotten, nevertheless, its significance to evolution of the Middle and Eastern Europe cartography is unquestionable.