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This map depicts the city of Bender (Tighina), a historically significant urban center in Moldova, and its surrounding areas.

We estimate that the map was produced shortly after the Annexation of Bender and Bessarabia into the Russian Empire in 1812.

The title, "Планъ Города Бендеръ Съ Окрестностями," translates to "Plan of the City of Bender with Surroundings. The scale, "Масштабъ Въ Английскомъ дюймѣ одна верста," reveals that one verst (a Russian unit of distance equal to about 1.0668 kilometers or 0.6629 miles) is represented per English inch.

The central urban area is labeled "Бендеры" (Bendery) and shows a gridded street layout. Other nearby areas are identified, including "Протягайловка" and "Борисовка," which may represent districts or adjacent settlements. The detailed depiction of streets, blocks, and possible public squares highlights the importance of urban planning in the city. Additionally, a prominent fortress labeled "Крепость" is featured near Bender, underscoring the city’s strategic military significance.

Historically, Bender was a vital Ottoman and later Russian stronghold due to its position on the Dniester River. The presence of fortifications on the map reflects its defensive importance. 

Beyond the city, other small settlements are marked, such as "Хаджимусы" (Hajimussi), giving insight into the extent of human activity in the vicinity. The map also identifies "Курганч Суворова", a burial mound or tumulus of potential archaeological or historical interest south of the town of Gîsca.

Bender, Moldova

Bender or Tighina, is a city of great historical and geopolitical significance located on the western bank of the Dniester River in the region of Bessarabia. While the city is within the internationally recognized borders of Moldova, since 1992 it has been under the de facto control of the self-declared Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (Transnistria), an unrecognized breakaway state. This geopolitical division places Bender at the center of ongoing tensions between Moldova and Transnistria. The city itself, together with its suburb Proteagailovca, forms a municipality that is technically under Moldovan law, but in practice, is administered by Transnistrian authorities. Bender also lies within the buffer zone established after the 1992 War of Transnistria, with both Moldovan and Transnistrian forces having interests in the area.

Bender’s strategic importance has been recognized for centuries, and its origins stretch back to at least 1408, when it was first mentioned in a document by the Moldavian voivode Alexander the Good. The city, known at the time as Tyagyanyakyacha, served as a critical customs post on a major commercial route linking Moldavia with the Crimean Khanate. By the second half of the 15th century, the town was referred to as Tighina, and its location along these trade routes made it an attractive and vulnerable target for regional powers. During the reign of Moldavian prince Stephen III, a small wooden fort was constructed to defend the town against frequent Tatar raids.

In 1538, Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent conquered the town, renaming it Bender, and over time transformed it into a formidable fortress. The fortifications were designed by the renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. The city remained an Ottoman stronghold until the early 19th century, serving as a base for the empire to exert pressure on the Principality of Moldavia. Numerous attempts to reclaim the city were made by Moldavian rulers and others, including notable sieges by John III the Terrible in 1574 and Michael the Brave in 1595 and 1600. The fortress also faced assaults from Zaporozhian Cossacks during the same period. Under Ottoman rule, the fortress was expanded and modernized in the 18th century, with contributions from Moldavian prince Antioh Cantemir.

In 1710, Bender became the site of a significant event in Ukrainian history when the Constitution of Pylyp Orlyk, one of the earliest examples of a political document advocating the separation of powers, was accepted in the fortress. This marked a crucial moment in Ukrainian political history, as it preceded Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws by almost four decades. Additionally, in 1713, Swedish King Charles XII, following his defeat at the Battle of Poltava, took refuge in Bender, leading to further skirmishes between his forces and the Ottomans.

By the second half of the 18th century, Bender became a target during the Russo-Turkish Wars, falling to Russian forces three times, in 1770, 1789, and 1806. After the Russo-Turkish War of 1806–1812, Bender, along with the rest of Bessarabia, was annexed by the Russian Empire. Under Russian rule, the city became an administrative and commercial center, with many Ukrainians, Russians, and Jews settling in the region. By the late 19th century, Bender’s population was predominantly Russian-speaking, and Romanian-speakers were a small minority.

Following the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917, Bender became part of the Moldavian Democratic Republic, and after 1918, it was integrated into the Kingdom of Romania. This period was marked by pro-Soviet sentiment and unrest, culminating in a brief pro-Soviet uprising in 1919 that was suppressed by Romanian forces. During the interwar period, Romania pursued a policy of Romanianization in Bessarabia, although Bender remained a predominantly Russian-speaking city.

In 1940, Bender was occupied by the Soviet Union following the annexation of Bessarabia, and during World War II, it changed hands between Romania and the Soviet Union. After the war, it remained part of the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union. Bender continued to be a significant city in the region, but its Jewish population, which had been a key part of the city’s demographic, was decimated during the Holocaust.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 brought new challenges to Bender, as the city became a flashpoint in the conflict between Moldova and the breakaway region of Transnistria. The 1992 War of Transnistria saw heavy fighting in Bender, with the city ultimately coming under the control of Transnistrian authorities. Although Bender remains technically within Moldova’s borders, the city operates under Transnistrian administration, making it a symbol of the frozen conflict between the two sides. Despite its turbulent history, Bender remains a key historical and cultural site in the region, bearing witness to centuries of conflict, trade, and geopolitical shifts.