An Eastern Europe Map Preserved in the Swedish Military Archive

Abstract

A map depicting Eastern Europe was discovered in the Swedish Military Archive and subsequently exhibited at events organized by Swedish authorities. This exhibition brought the map to the attention of the scholarly community, prompting various evaluations and interpretations, particularly by the staff of the Swedish Military Archive. Key questions regarding the map remain unanswered, including its physical characteristics, authorship, date of creation, content, cartographic materials used in its design, its presence in the Swedish Military Archive, and its intended purpose. Additionally, issues surrounding the depiction of the Crimean Tatar expedition to Moscow and the related information presented on the map require further investigation. This study seeks to address these questions and clarify unresolved issues while considering the existing evaluations and interpretations. The analysis is based on the digital version of the map provided by the Swedish Military Archive. The question of who made the anonymous map was answered by taking into account all the studies done on this subject, although it is not certain, that it could have been made by Ibrahim Müteferrika and Ahmed Pasha. Regarding the dating of the map, it was concluded that it could have been made in 1730 and later or between 1731- 1747. In addition, regarding the sources utilized in the preparation of the map, contrary to the claims that it was created by using European cartographic materials, we believe that it was created by copying the map of Eastern Europe by the French cartographer Guillaume de Lisle. Furthermore, it is argued that the map may have been intended to support the formation of an alliance between the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate, and Sweden, aimed at countering Russian expansionism in Eastern Europe and facilitating the restoration of territories under Russian control to their previous rulers.