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This map of the area around Gallipoli in the Sea of Marmara was created by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin and included in the 1764 edition of his Petite Atlas Maritime
The map offers a detailed plan of Gallipoli (modern-day Gelibolu, Turkey), located on the European side of the Dardanelles along the Sea of Marmara. Gallipoli was historically a strategic location, often serving as a military outpost due to its position controlling naval access between the Aegean and Black Seas.
The map highlights both the fortifications of the Château and the layout of the city. Notable elements include:
- Le Château: Depicted with its protective moat (fosse), walls, and several round towers, suggesting its defensive importance during the 18th century. The château is labeled alongside the city’s main gate (Porte).
- Bassin and Magasin du Vaisseau: Several basins are displayed near the water, likely used for docking ships. The Magasin du Vaisseau (ship warehouse) indicates the area was an important maritime hub for storage and repairs.
- La Ville: The city is illustrated with a grid of buildings, showing a compact urban layout near the coastline. Streets are labeled, such as Calle and Ruelle.
- Mouillage and Anchors: Depths are indicated in brasses near the harbor area (Mouillage), providing information for ships approaching the coastline.
- Geographical Details: The map shows ruins (Ruines) and natural features like Canal and Terrain Plat, indicating flat terrain. The Sea of Marmara is marked to the south.
As part of the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century, Gallipoli was a vital military and naval center, particularly due to its strategic position along the Dardanelles. Bellin’s map, as part of his Petite Atlas Maritime, reflects the era's European interest in mapping Ottoman territories, especially key naval outposts. The inclusion of precise maritime details indicates the importance of Gallipoli for naval navigation and military planning during this period.
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.
![[Aegean Sea - Greece - Turkey] Carte Reduite de L'Archipel Pour servir aux Vaisseaux du Roy . . . 1738](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/77482.jpg)
