|
||
|
|
|
|
This engraved plan of The Citadel of Pondicherry, published by J. Luffman in 1802, depicts the French-controlled fortress on the Coromandel Coast in the East Indies.
Located approximately 100 miles south of Madras (modern Chennai), Pondicherry was a key French colonial stronghold in India. The map showcases a star fort design, a military architecture style developed in early modern Europe to withstand artillery bombardments. The fortification's geometric layout, with angular bastions and a surrounding moat, reflects the strategic planning employed in colonial defenses.
The map highlights the Esplanade, an open area surrounding the fort, designed to prevent attackers from approaching under cover. Within the fortress, the central circular structure is segmented into multiple enclosed sections, likely serving as barracks, storage facilities, and administrative buildings. Additional outer fortifications, including smaller bastions and reinforced walls, emphasize the citadel's layered defensive strategy. A carefully measured scale bar at the bottom provides a reference for distances, marking increments of 200 feet.
Historically, Pondicherry was a vital outpost for the French East India Company, established in 1674. The fortress depicted here represents modifications made in the late 18th century, a period when the colony frequently changed hands between the French and British during the Anglo-French struggles in India.
Luffman’s map exemplifies early 19th-century military cartography, designed to inform European audiences of colonial holdings and strategic defenses. The detailed engraving, with its structured layout and meticulous annotations, reflects the geopolitical significance of Pondicherry in the broader context of colonial rivalry in India.
![[Northwestern India & Pakistan] Tabula Asiae IX](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/46402.jpg)
![[Dutch Forts -- Jakarta, Amboine, Ternate, Solor, Banda] Vue et Description de Quelques-Uns des Principaux Forts des Hollandois dans les Indes](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/43122.jpg)
![[ India and Southeast Asia ] Tabula Asiae XI](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/106121.jpg)
