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Rare early 19th Century Plan of Moscow, showing the plan of the city, roads, rivers, buildings, fortified walls of the old city and two out rings, gates, amphitheater, and other details.
This 1808 map of Moscow depicts the city during a period of significant transition under the reign of Tsar Alexander I (1777–1825), who ruled from 1801. At the time, Moscow had recently undergone a series of modernizations initiated in the late 18th century under Catherine the Great and continued into the early 19th century. Notable developments included the restructuring of urban spaces with broader streets, public squares, and improvements to infrastructure to support Moscow's growing population and role as a cultural and political hub.
In the wake of the 1773–1775 Pugachev Rebellion, Catherine had sought to enhance the city’s defenses and governance, resulting in the establishment of a centralized city plan. By 1808, these efforts were visible in the city's radial-concentric street layout, defined by the Kremlin at its center, surrounded by major thoroughfares and the newly established boulevards replacing older wooden structures prone to fire. This map, created just four years before Napoleon's invasion of Russia, provides a snapshot of Moscow at a critical moment, showcasing its evolving urban framework on the eve of one of the most transformative events in its history.
![[ 800 Years of Moscow ] 800 лет Москве.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/109975.jpg)
![[ Title: Map of Western Russian Empire ] СПЕЦИАЛЬНАЯ КАРТА ЗАПАДНОЙ ЧАСТИ РОССИЙСКОЙ ИМПЕРИИ, СОСТАВЛЕННАЯ И ГРАВИРОВАННАЯ ВЪ 470000 ДОЛЮ ВОЕННО-ТОПОГРАФИЧЕСКОМЪ ДЕПО ВО ВРЕМЯ УПРАВЛЕНИЯ КАПИТАНОМЪ ШТАБА ПОДЪ РУКОВОДСТВОМЪ ГЕНЕРАЛА КАРТЫ МАКСИМИЛИАНА, МОДЬ, МДСССХХII (pecial Map of the Western Part of the Russian Empire, Composed and Engraved on a scale of 1:470,000 at the Military Topographic Depot during the administration of Captain Shchaba under the guidance of General Maksimilian, 1832)](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/108434.jpg)