Cartographica Helvetica

Summary

Mirela Slukan Altić:

French topographic and hydrographic surveys of Dalmatia during the Napoleonic Period

Cartographica Helvetica 46 (2012) 17–24

Summary:

After the Treaty of Pressburg (Bratislava) was signed between Austria and France in December 1805, Dalmatia was under French influence and – between 1809 and 1813 – a part of the Illyrian Provinces under French administration. Even though the region was under French rule for only a few years, it is indebted to France for the first hydrographic survey of the Adriatic Sea. This was conducted between 1806 and 1809 under Charles-François Beautemps-Beaupré, hydrographic engineer. The first systematic topographic survey of Dalmatia was also carried out between 1806 and 1811. The fact that this French survey remained in use until well after Dalmatia was again incorporated under Austrian administration in 1813 only confirms its significance and quality. It was not until 1851 to 1854 that Austria carried out a new survey of Dalmatia.