1800 · London
by FADEN, William (1750-1836)
London: Printed for Wm. Faden, 1800. Consists of two sheets. Size (if joined): 42 3/4 x 32 5/8 inches. A magnificent large scale map, which illustrates the geopolitical landscape of southern India, highlighting the British East India Company's expanding influence alongside the territories of local powers. The map reflects the complex interplay of local and foreign influences that shaped southern India during the region's pivotal period of transformation.
This highly detailed two-page map depicts the southern portion of India as it was known at the turn of the nineteenth century, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape shaped by various local powers and the growing British influence. The map, spanning two pages, depicts the Indian subcontinent stretching from Bombay (Mumbai) in the north to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) in the south, from the City of Ellore (Eluru) and the Bay of Bengal in the east to the Laccadives (Lakshadweep) in the west. The map also includes the northern half of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The map illustrates British influence through Anglicized names of settlements and landmarks, with colour coding to differentiate the territorial holdings and areas of influence of various groups. Red regions represent areas administered by the British East India Company, while purple regions indicate the territories of the Kingdom of Mysore, ruled in the late eighteenth century by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, known for their resistance to British expansion. Other regions highlighted include the green territories of the Marhatta Confederacy, the orange domains of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the yellow regions under the Nawabs of the Carnatic (Arcot), who maintained significant autonomy until the early nineteenth century. The blue areas represent the Kingdom of Travancore, which entered into a treaty with the British East India Company in 1795. While European contact with the Indian subcontinent dates back centuries, the British presence began with the establishment of the East India Company in 1600. Initially focused on trade in the Indian Ocean, the Company shifted its attention to the Indian subcontinent by the mid-seventeenth century. Over the next two centuries, the British established a growing presence in India, forming alliances with local rulers, engaging in trade, and conducting military operations. This map visually represents the culmination of these efforts, portraying the British-administered regions alongside those of other significant powers in southern India. The map also marks several notable military campaigns and routes, including the march of the Marquess of Cornwallis, a key British figure who served as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of India from 1786 to 1793. Cornwallis's involvement in military campaigns against Tipu Sultan is particularly noted. An ornate cartouche in the bottom left corner provides additional notes, including scale bars with multiple units of measurement and a note from Faden regarding his sources. The map was first published in 1792, with subsequent editions in 1796 and 1800.
Rumsey 2104.047, 2104.048; Phillips (atlases) 6010, 6013, 6047. National Library of Australia, MAP RM 1792. Rennell, James, Memoir of a Map of Hindoostan; or the Mogul Empire, London, 1792; Edney, M. H., Mapping an Empire: The Geographical Fonstruction of British India, 1765-1843. (Inventory #: 40024)
This highly detailed two-page map depicts the southern portion of India as it was known at the turn of the nineteenth century, reflecting the complex geopolitical landscape shaped by various local powers and the growing British influence. The map, spanning two pages, depicts the Indian subcontinent stretching from Bombay (Mumbai) in the north to Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) in the south, from the City of Ellore (Eluru) and the Bay of Bengal in the east to the Laccadives (Lakshadweep) in the west. The map also includes the northern half of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). The map illustrates British influence through Anglicized names of settlements and landmarks, with colour coding to differentiate the territorial holdings and areas of influence of various groups. Red regions represent areas administered by the British East India Company, while purple regions indicate the territories of the Kingdom of Mysore, ruled in the late eighteenth century by Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, known for their resistance to British expansion. Other regions highlighted include the green territories of the Marhatta Confederacy, the orange domains of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the yellow regions under the Nawabs of the Carnatic (Arcot), who maintained significant autonomy until the early nineteenth century. The blue areas represent the Kingdom of Travancore, which entered into a treaty with the British East India Company in 1795. While European contact with the Indian subcontinent dates back centuries, the British presence began with the establishment of the East India Company in 1600. Initially focused on trade in the Indian Ocean, the Company shifted its attention to the Indian subcontinent by the mid-seventeenth century. Over the next two centuries, the British established a growing presence in India, forming alliances with local rulers, engaging in trade, and conducting military operations. This map visually represents the culmination of these efforts, portraying the British-administered regions alongside those of other significant powers in southern India. The map also marks several notable military campaigns and routes, including the march of the Marquess of Cornwallis, a key British figure who served as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of India from 1786 to 1793. Cornwallis's involvement in military campaigns against Tipu Sultan is particularly noted. An ornate cartouche in the bottom left corner provides additional notes, including scale bars with multiple units of measurement and a note from Faden regarding his sources. The map was first published in 1792, with subsequent editions in 1796 and 1800.
Rumsey 2104.047, 2104.048; Phillips (atlases) 6010, 6013, 6047. National Library of Australia, MAP RM 1792. Rennell, James, Memoir of a Map of Hindoostan; or the Mogul Empire, London, 1792; Edney, M. H., Mapping an Empire: The Geographical Fonstruction of British India, 1765-1843. (Inventory #: 40024)