2021, vol. 9, no. 4. Idrisov Yu.M., Khanmurzaev I.I.

2021, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 768-790

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22378/2313-6197.2021-9-4.768-790

   “HAND DRAWN PORTOLAN OF THE CASPIAN SEA OF 1519”
BY VESCONTE MAGGIOLO: A SOURCE OF HISTORICAL
GEOGRAPHY FOR THE CASPIAN REGION

Yu.M. Idrisov 1, I.I. Khanmurzaev 2
1 Daghestan nonprofit foundation “Historical Park ‘Russia – My History’”
Makhachkala, Republic of Daghestan, Russian Federation
markes06@mail.ru

2 Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan
Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Makhachkala, Republic of Daghestan, Russian Federation
xanmurzaev@yandex.ru

Abstract: Research objectives: To conduct a detailed comparative analysis of the toponymic source known as “Hand Drawn Portolan of the Caspian Sea (1519)” by Vesconte Maggiolo, and ascertain the range and chronology of its sources.
Research materials: At the turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, there were a few navigational maps – portolan charts – created in Italy which contained rather precise outlines of the coastline of the Caspian Sea. The present Portolan excels all earlier items in terms of precision of the depicted topographical realities of the region. The quality of the map we are examining was surpassed only in the seventeenth century after Peter I’s hydrographic expeditions. The high level of shoreline’s precision also strongly suggests that the map was based on authentic topographic input. Maggiolo’s map contains 136 geographical names.
Results and novelty of the research: For the first time ever in domestic scholarship, we conducted a comparative historical analysis of the hand drawn portolan chart of the Caspian Sea. We also proved the correlation of some toponyms of the West Caspian region with the Timurid and local sources that covered the military campaigns of Amir Timur in the region. In our view, the “Hand Drawn Portolan Chart of the Caspian Sea (1519)” created by Vesconte Maggiolo is one of the most notable among similar works. It finds many common features with the portolan from the island of Lesina, but also contains some common elements with the Mallorca cartographic school and Fra Mauro, Egerton MS 73, and Egerton MS 2083. This research allows us to extend and systematize our understanding of Italian cartography in relation to the Caspian region. It also details or adds some facts about the presence of Europeans in this region during the Golden Horde era. Based on this topographic and toponymic analysis, we furthermore come to a conclusion that the portolan in question is derived from a protograph created in the first half of fifteenth century, reflecting the realities of the turn of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.

Keywords: Vesconte Maggiolo, portolan, maps, Caspian Sea, place names, Genoese, Venetians, Franciscans, Saray, Caucasus, Iran, Azerbaijan, coast of Kazakhstan, coast of Turkmenistan, Fra Mauro, sources, protograph

For citation: Idrisov Yu.M., Khanmurzaev I.I. “Hand Drawn Portolan of the Caspian Sea of 1519” by Vesconte Maggiolo: A Source of Historical Geography for the Caspian Region. Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie=Golden Horde Review. 2021, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 768–790. DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2021-9-4.768-790 (In Russian)

Acknowledgements: We would like to express our gratitude to Roman Hautala (Senior Research Fellow at the Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences), A.V. Dzhanov (Senior Research Fellow of the National Reserve “Sophia Kievskaya”), Professor Sh.M. Mustafayev (Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan), as well as to A.R. Ibragimov (IT-manager) for the provided technical support.

REFERENCES

  1. English Travelers in the Muscovite State in the sixteenth century. Rubinshteyn N.L. (ed.), Got’e Yu.V. (tr.). Moscow: Sotsekgiz, 1937. 308 p. (In Russian)
  2. Bagrov L. Materials for the Historical Overview of the Maps of the Caspian Sea. St. Peterburg: Tipografiya Morskogo Ministerstva, 1912. 112 p. (In Russian)
  3. Bakikhanov A.K. Gyulistan-i Iram. Baku: Elm, 1991. 304 p. (In Russian)
  4. Bartol’d V.V. Writings. Moscow: Nauka, 1965, vol. 3. 712 p. (In Russian)
  5. Berg L.S. Selected Papers in Five Volumes, Vol. 3: Middle Asia – Less. Murzaev E.M. (ed.). Moscow, 1960. 551 p. (In Russian)
  6. Bushev P.P. History of the Embassies and Diplomatic Relations of the Russian and Iranian States in 1586–1612. Moscow: Nauka, 1987. 280 p. (In Russian)
  7. Vasil’ev D.V. Reports about few archaeological memorials of the Astrakhan Region in the written sources of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Actual Problems of Historical Research: Proceedings of the Ninth all-Russian Research Conference Devoted to the 455th Aniversary of Astrakhan. Astrakhan, 2013, part 1, pp. 41–48. (In Russian)
  8. Volkov I.V. The Golden Horde and Christian World (archaeological evidence of historical phenomena). Bulletin of the Russian Humanitarian Science Foundation. 2001, no. 4, pp. 15–25. (In Russian)
  9. Volkov I.V. Fictitious name Laeti for the settlement of Aktobe. Caspian Bulletin: Archaeology, History, Ethnology. 2016, no. 6, pp. 21–38. (In Russian)
  10. Goncharov E.Yu. “…suffers from strong inaccuracy”: (demonstration of scientific tricks with their subsequent exposure). Bulletin of the Lower Volga Archaeology. 2003, iss. 6, pp. 318–328. Available at: http://archeologia.narod.ru/gonch.htm (accessed: 25.8.2020). (In Russian)
  11. Guseynov G.-R.A.-K. History of Ancient and Medieval Relations of the Languages of North Eastern Caucasus and Daghestan with Russian Language. Makhachkala: Alef, 2010. 216 p. (In Russian)
  12. Dzhanov A.V. Villages (Casalia) of Soldaia and Gothia according to the books of Caffa’s Massaria. History and Archaeology of Crimea. 2017, no. 5, pp. 286–340. (In Russian)
  13. Egorov V.L. Historical Geography of the Golden Horde in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Moscow: KRASAND, 2010. 245 p. (In Russian)
  14. Zaytsev I.V. The Astrakhan Khanate. Moscow: Vostochnaya literatura, 2006. 303 p. (In Russian)
  15. Idrisov Yu.M. A Tyumen possession between the Volga and the Caucasus: The birth and death of the state. Medieval Turkic-Tatar States. Kazan, 2014, no. 6, pp. 80–83. (In Russian)
  16. Extract from the work of Wilhelm Heyd: History of Eastern Trade in the Middle Ages (Colonies on the northern coast of the Black Sea. The end of the western colonies of the Northern Black Sea coast). Kolly L.P. (tr.). Bulletin of the Tauride Scientific Archive Commission. Simferopol, 1915, 28th year, no. 52, pp. 68–185. (In Russian)
  17. The Illustrated Atlas of the World. Geography of the World. The Latest Toponymic Dictionary. Moscow: Astrel’ SPb, 2007. 688 p. (In Russian)
  18. Historical Travels. Excerpts from Memoirs and Notes of Foreigners and Russians Travellers along the Volga from the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries. Stalingrad: Kraevoe knigoizdatel’stvo, 1936. 328 p. (In Russian)
  19. Historical Atlas of the Republic of Tatarstan. Images and Space. Sitdikov A.G., Abdullin Kh.M. (eds). Perm: OOO “PK ‘ASTER’”, 2016. 84 p. (In Russian)
  20. The Golden Horde in Written Sources, Vol. 1: Arabic and Persian Writings. Khrapachevsky R.P. (ed.). Moscow, 2003. (In Russian)
  21. The Caucasus: Geographical Names and Objects: Alphabetical Index to the Five-verst Map of the Caucasus Region. Nal’chik: Izd-vo M. i V. Kotlyarovykh, 2007. 336 p. (In Russian)
  22. Karelin G.S. G.S. Karelin’s Voyage on the Caspian Sea. Saint-Petersburg: Tip. Imp. Akad. nauk, 1883. vi + 497 p. (In Russian)
  23. Krishtopa A.E. Information of Western European travelers of the fifteenth century about Daghestan. Questions of History and Ethnography of Daghestan. Collection of Scientific Reports. Makhachkala, 1970, iss. I, pp. 110–123. (In Russian)
  24. Kumyk Oral Folk Art. A Treasury of Songs. In Three Volumes. Makhachkala: Izdatel’skiy dom “Dagestan”, 2018, vol. 1. 508 p. (In Russian)
  25. The Kumyk-Russian Dictionary. Makhachkala: Tipografiya “Nauka-Dagestan”, 2013. 523 p. (In Russian)
  26. Kutelia T. Georgia and Safavid Iran: According to Numismatic Data. Tbilisi: Metsniereba, 1979. 131 p. (In Russian)
  27. Mirzoev M.A. Names on Maps of the Caspian Sea. Baku: Azeraybaydzhanskoe gosudarstvennoe izdatel’stvo, 1988. 183 p. (In Russian)
  28. Mukhammed Avabi Aktashi. Derbent-Name. Makhachkala: Dagestanskoe knizhnoe izdatel’stvo, 1992. 160 p. (In Russian)
  29. Nazir ad-Durgeli. A Journey of the Minds through the Biographies of the Islamic Scholars of Daghestan. Moscow: Izdatel’skiy dom “Mardzhani”, 2012. 213 p. (In Russian)
  30. Olearius A. Description of a Journey to Muscovy and through Muscovy to Persia and Back. St. Petersburg: Izdanie A.S. Suvorina, 1906. 582 p. (In Russian)
  31. Orazaev G.M.-R. Historical Writings of Daghestan in Turkic Languages from the seventeenth to beginning of twentieth centuries (texts, comments). Makhachkala: “Epokha”, 2003, vol. 1. 332 p. (In Russian)
  32. Travel of Ivan Schiltberger in Europe, Asia and Africa from 1394 to 1427. Brun F.K. (tr.). Notes of the Novorossiysk University. Odessa, 1867, vol. 1, pp. 1–156. (In Russian)
  33. Sevortyan E.V. Etymological Dictionary of Turkic Languages: Common Turkic and inter-Turkic B-stems. Moscow: Nauka, 1978. 349 p. (In Russian)
  34. Soymonov F.I. The Description of the Caspian Sea. Moscow: Direkt-Media, 2015. 362 p. (In Russian)
  35. Takhnaeva P.I. Christian Culture of Medieval Avaria in the Context of Reconstruction of Political History from the sixth to sixteenth centuries. Makhachkala: Izdatel’skiy dom “Epokha”, 2004. 150 p. (In Russian)
  36. River Mouths of the Caspian Region: History of Formation, Modern Hydrological-morphological Processes and Dangerous Hydrological Phenomena. Mikhaylov V.N. (ed.) Moscow: Geos, 2013. 703 p. (In Russian)
  37. Fomenko I.K. Image of the World on Ancient Portolans. The Black Sea Region. From the end of thirteenth to seventeenth centuries. Moscow: Indrik, 2011. 424 p. (In Russian)
  38. Khamidullin B.L. The phenomenon of the Golden Horde civilization. Turko­logical Studies. 2019, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 36–61. (In Russian)
  39. Hautala R. In the Lands of “Northern Tartary”: Information from Latin Sources about the Golden Horde during the Reign of Uzbek Khan (1313–1341). Kazan: Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences 2019. 976 p. (In Russian)
  40. Azerbaijan location in Al-Idrisi map (1154). Available at: https://commons.
    wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Idrisi-Azerbaijan.JPG (accessed: 3.8.2020).
  41. Bagrow L. Italians on the Caspian. Imago Mundi. 1956, vol. 13, pp. 2–10.
  42. Bianco A. Mappamondo. Available at: http://history-maps.ru/pictures/max/0/133.jpg (accessed: 25.8.2020).
  43. Cary J. A New Map of Persia, from the Latest Authorities. By John Cary, Engraver, 1801. London: Engraver & Map-seller, No. 181, Strand, August 1st, 1801. Available at: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/8715/a-new-map-of-persia-from-the-latest-authorities-1801-cary (accessed: 3.8.2020).
  44. Egerton MS 73. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
    File:Chart_of_the_coast_of_Africa_from_Cape_Formoso_south_to_Cape_Negro;_another_chart_
    of_the_Caspian_Sea-_Cornaro_Atlas_(Egerton_MS_73,_f.33r).jpeg (accessed: 23.8.2020).
  45. Géographie du Moyen Âge, étudiée par Joachim Lelewel. Bruxeles Vve et J. Pilliet, 1850. 50 p. (In French)
  46. Goldschmidt E.P. The Lesina portolan chart of the Caspian sea (with a commentary by Gerald R. Crone). Geographical Journal. 1944, no. 103, pp. 272–278.
  47. Ferrar M.J. Egerton ms 2803 atlas; Anon! The construct and possible author. Available at: https://www.cartographyunchained.com/chege1/ (accessed: 23.8.2020).
  48. Fra Mauro. Mappamondo. Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org
    /wikipedia/commons/1/1b/FraMauroDetailedMap.jpg (accessed: 25.8.2020).
  49. Halberg I. L’Extrême Orient dans la littérature et la cartographie de l’Occident des XIIIe, XIVe et XVe siècles: étude sur l’histoire de la géographie. Goteborg: W. Zachrissons boktryckeri a.-b., 1907. 573 p. (In French)
  50. Karta över Kaspiska havet med omgivande länder. Available at: https://www.mapmania.org/map/31003/karta_over_kaspiska_havet_med_omgivande_lander_fran_
    1726_-_skoklosters_slott_-_97955 (accessed: 25.8.2020).
  51. Kern A. Der «Libellus de notiti orbis» Iohannes III (De Galonifontibus) O.P. Erzbischof von Sultłthanyeh. Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum. 1938, vol. 8, pp. 82–123. (In German, Latin)
  52. Kunstmann II. Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons
    /b/b2/1500s_Kunstmann_II_Portolan.jpg (accessed: 25.8.2020).
  53. Leardo G. Mappamondo. Available at: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/6763/view/1/1/ (accessed: 24.8.2020).
  54. Maggiolo, Vesconte: Seeatlas (Alte Welt und Terra Nova) – BSB Cod.icon. 135, Genua, 1519 [BSB-Hss Cod.icon. 135]. Available at: https://bildsuche.digitale-sammlungen.de/index.html?c=viewer&l=de&bandnummer=bsb00002700&pimage=&v=&nav= (accessed: 24.8.2020).
  55. Mauntel, C. Fra Mauro’s view on the boring question of continents. Peregrinations: Journal of Medieval Art and Architecture. 2018, no. 6, 3, pp. 54–77.
  56. McIntosh G.C. The Vesconte Maggiolo World Map of 1504 in Fano, Italy. Second Edition. Italy Copyright © 2015 by Plus Ultra Publishing Company, 2015. 94 p.
  57. Mercator G. Persici vel Sophorum Regni typus, 1628. Available at: https://www.vintage-maps.com/en/antique-maps/asia/middle-east/mercator-middle-east-iran-caspian-sea-persian-gulf-1628::825 (accessed: 24.8.2020).
  58. Metcalf A.C. Amerigo Vespucci and the Four Finger (Kunstmann II) World Map. e-Perimetron. 2012, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 36–44.
  59. Quartapelle A. Itinerarium Antonii Ususmaris cives januensis. Available at: https://www.academia.edu/35454579/Itinerarium_Antonii_Ususmaris_cives_januensis?fbclid=IwAR1be_Ko8OE-gZsMzEVxFZnn0oftqhkF4g2_kIvyEK2vgHalbUpV-PhVOJs (acces­sed: 24.8.2020). (In Latin)
  60. Richard J. La Papauté et les Missions d’Orient au Moyen Age (XIIIe–XVe siècles). Roma, 1977. 325 p. (In French)
  61. Tzavara A. Une campaign in «Persia», 1390–1391. Revue d’études turques. Peop­les, langues, cultures, etats. Turcica. 2004, vol. 36, pp.19–36. (In French)
  62. Van Duzer C. Nautical charts, texts, and transmission: The case of Conte di Ottomano Freducci and Fra Mauro. Electronic British Library Journal. 2017, article 6, pp. 1–65.
  63. Wadding L. Annales Minorum seu Trium Ordinum a S. Francisco institutorum. Roma: Tupis Rochi Bernabò, 1734, vol. 9. 604 p. (In Latin)
  64. World Chart, from Eastern Coasts of America to India. Portolan Chart. Naples. Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vesconte_Maggiolo._World_chart,_from_eastern_coasts_
    of_America_to_India._PORTOLAN_CHART._Naples,_1516.H.jpg (accessed: 24.8.2020).

About the authors: Yusup M. Idrisov – Cand. Sci. (History), Lecturer-guide of the Daghestan nonprofit foundation “Historical Park ‘Russia – My History’” (31, Imam Shamil Ave., Makhachkala 367015, Republic of Daghestan, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0001-5326-9298. E-mail: markes06@mail.ru

Ismail I. Khanmurzaev – junior researcher of the Department of Oriental Studies, Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Daghestan Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences (75, M. Yaragskiy Str., Makhachkala 367030, Republic of Daghestan, Russian Federation); ORCID: 0000-0003-0645-3978. E-mail: xanmurzaev@yandex.ru

Received  July 30, 2021   Accepted for publication  November 2,2021
Published  Online December 29, 2021