This 1764 map from Jacques-Nicolas Bellin's Petit Atlas Maritime illustrates the detailed fortifications and canal structures of La Goulette, Tunisia. Serving both strategic defense and navigation purposes, this map highlights the intricate design and critical geographical positioning of La Goulette at the Mediterranean entry point to the Lake of Tunis.
Bellin's map displays a meticulous portrayal of the fortifications at La Goulette. These include the main fortification, "Fort de la Goulette," and a smaller structure, "Petit Fort de la Goulette," both of which are designed to protect the canal that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Lake of Tunis. This canal is prominently featured, complete with a "Pont Levée" (drawbridge), enhancing the defensive capability of the fort by controlling access to the inner waterway.
La Goulette played a crucial role as a defensive and trade gateway in the Mediterranean, particularly under Ottoman rule when these fortifications were reinforced to protect against European naval powers. La Goulette was a focal point of Mediterranean defense and trade. Originally, the kasbah fortress at La Goulette was erected in 1535 by Charles I of Spain. However, it fell into Ottoman hands in 1574 during their expansion across the Mediterranean.
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) was among the most important mapmakers of the eighteenth century. In 1721, at only the age of 18, he was appointed Hydrographer to the French Navy. In August 1741, he became the first Ingénieur de la Marine of the Dépôt des cartes et plans de la Marine (the French Hydrographic Office) and was named Official Hydrographer of the French King.
During his term as Official Hydrographer, the Dépôt was the one of the most active centers for the production of sea charts and maps in Europe. Their output included a folio-format sea atlas of France, the Neptune Francois. He also produced a number of sea atlases of the world, including the Atlas Maritime and the Hydrographie Francaise. These gained fame and distinction all over Europe and were republished throughout the eighteenth and even in the nineteenth century.
Bellin also produced smaller format maps such as the 1764 Petit Atlas Maritime, containing 580 finely-detailed charts. He also contributed a number of maps for the 15-volume Histoire Generale des Voyages of Antoine François Prévost.
Bellin set a very high standard of workmanship and accuracy, cementing France's leading role in European cartography and geography during this period. Many of his maps were copied by other mapmakers across the continent.