La Moscovie Meridionale

The southern part of the Grand Duchy of Moscovie, now the European part of Russia. From the Sea of Azov in the south to the Duchy of Greater Novgorod in the north.

The map is based on de L'Isle's important two sheet map of the region first issued in c.1706 and then the most accurate and important map of the region. By the date of this Covens and Mortier edition, Czar Peter the Great had declared Muscovy an Empire and he was in the process of sponsoring several expeditions to claim the vast lands of Siberia and eastern Asia for his new Empire. These became known as the Northern Expeditions. Peter died in 1725 but his policies were continued by his successors. Original hand colour. [RUS2594]