Old Map of Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor, 1808

Montenegro and the Bay of Kotor in 1808

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Montenegro occupied a strategically important position between the Adriatic coast and the mountainous interior of the western Balkans. The region was divided between local Montenegrin authority, Ottoman influence and coastal territories associated with the former Venetian world.

The Bay of Kotor, known historically as the Bocche di Cattaro, formed one of the finest natural harbours in the Adriatic. Its sheltered waters, fortified towns and position on important maritime routes gave it considerable military and commercial importance.

By 1808, the Napoleonic Wars were reshaping the political map of Europe. The former Venetian possessions along the eastern Adriatic had passed through Austrian and French control, while Montenegro retained a distinctive political and religious identity under its prince-bishops.

De Traux’s map records this region during a period of rapid change. It captures the relationship between the steep mountain landscape, the coastal settlements and the narrow routes connecting the interior with the sea.

Cartographer section

Maximilian de Traux and His Map

Maximilian de Traux was an Austrian military officer and cartographer whose work reflected the strategic importance of accurate regional mapping during the Napoleonic period.

Published in Vienna in 1808, this map combines geographical detail with finely engraved relief. Mountain chains are represented through dense hachuring, while roads, settlements, rivers and territorial boundaries are carefully marked.

The original title identifies both the Bocche di Cattaro and Montenegro, making the map an especially valuable record of the relationship between the Bay of Kotor and the surrounding interior at the beginning of the nineteenth century.