The Mughals, as we know, are one of the most controversial empires on the subcontinent. Hence, this map won't get into that zone but will talk about one of the most fascinating parts of any history - the provinces. On all popular replicated maps we have some common names such as Agra, Delhi, Lahore etc., all familiar to today's times. But when we look at the maps sketched during that time by Europeans, not all names are familiar. The map here lists all such names and will try to locate their current names.
This particular map is dated 1697 during the regime of Aurangzeb and roughly a decade post-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's death (he died in 1680). The map was originally sketched by Franciscan geographer Vincenzo Coronelli (1650-1718) who is famous for making 17th century celestial globes all preserved in today's Venice. The original name of the map is 'Impero del Gran Mogol'.
The names of provinces are:
Cabulistan (Kabul)
Candahar (Kandahar)
Haican
Buchor
Tatta / Sinda (Sindh)
Kingdom of Guzerate / Camboia (Gujarat)
Candis (Khandesh)
Chitor (Chittaurgarh)
Maluay (Malwa)
Pruop
Govaliar (Gwalior)
Agra
Delly (Delhi)
Ienupar or Jenupar (Jengapur or Gangapur)
Bando (Mandu)
Iesselmere (Jaisalmer)
Rahia Rana
Hendowns (Hindus)
Multan
Attach (Attock)
Cassimere (Kashmir)
Lahor or Pengab (Lahore or Punjab)
Banchish
Nagrakut (Nagarkot, in Nepal)
Genba
Bakor
Sanbal or Sanbat (Sambalpur?)
Narvar
Elebas
Mevat (Mewat near today's Bangladesh; different from Haryana)
Patane
Bengala (Bengal)
Comotay (Kamata, in Bangladesh)
Voeza
Iesuai (Jessore)
Patna / Porena (Patna)
Pitan
Gor (Gaur or Gauda, in West Bengal)
Cesyba
Kandauna
Kakaner
It's quite tricky to find the current names of these territories but the locations are mentioned on the map. Note that this is 1697 when territories weren't properly explored and due to lack of proper equipment, maps were inaccurate. Hence we can see Bengal (spelled as Bengala) as a small area surrounded by islands (possibly today's Sundarbans), strange lake such as Cunabetee or Chiamay which possibly could be today's Chiang Mai region of Thailand (nicknamed as mother of all major Asian rivers), tiny islands and the location of Cacha (today's Kutch) on one of them etc. Orixa or Orissa (Odisha) was not technically part of the Mughal Empire according to this map. An interesting name mentioned is Ianganat which could be Jagannath, but is yet unclear.
Other territories not mentioned on the map but were also part of Mughal Empire are:
Neebal (Nepal?)
Rotas (Rohtas, in Bihar)
Soret (Sorath, in Gujarat)
Bucknor (Bikaner, in Rajasthan)
Berar
The original map showed countries like Persia, Tartaria and China as neighbors to the Mughal Empire which basically means Iran, Tartaria region and China. And lastly, Hindustan is mentioned as Indostan - the name assigned to mostly the conquered and annexed lands of all the Islamic empires on the subcontinent.
Here's a representative replica of the original 1697 map.
@mapsbysagar
@mapsbysagar
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