KWARTALNIK HISTORII KULTURY MATERIALNEJ 67 (4), 2019

PL ISSN 0023-5881
www.iaepan.edu.pl
DOI: 10.23858/KHKM67.2019.4.005

Karol Łopatecki

Two Maps of the Podlasie-Grodno Borderline

from 1706*

Key words: military cartography, Biebrza, Tykocin, Grodno, Joseph-Gaspard Lambert

de Guerin, toponyms of Podlasie, Polish mile, Great Northern War, military
camps
Słowa kluczowe: kartografia wojskowa, Biebrza, Tykocin, Grodno, Joseph-Gaspard Lambert
de Guerin, toponimy podlaskie, mila polska, Wielka Wojna Północna, obozy
wojskowe

I. Characteristics of the maps. II. The toponymy of the maps. III. Scale and space.
IV. Conclusions

In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the degree to which the lands of the Polish-
-Lithuanian Commonwealth were cartographed varied. Apart from the areas perfectly mapped
on the works of Stanisław Porębski, George Freudenhammer, Wilhelm Beauplan, Daniel Zwicker,
Fryderyk Getkant, Maciej Strubicz, Tomasz Makowski, Casper Henneberger, or Józef Narono-
wicz-Naroński, there were lands of poor cartographic recognition1. The latter include the cen-
trally located Podlaskie Voivodeship and the adjacent areas of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania2.
This specificity can be observed when analysing the general maps of the Commonwealth from
the second half of the seventeenth century, on which this area was represented as having very
few settlements (though in fact it was densely populated), and the river network was very poorly
reproduced (Fig. 3a and 3b)3. In the case of such regions, maps made for military purposes are
particularly important. As early as in the seventeenth century, engineers were required to carry
out a preliminary terrain survey, which then served as a basis for itineraries and maps.
In this study, I present two military maps kept in the Library of the Academy of Sciences in
St Petersburg, which refer to the inaccessible area of the Biebrza Valley and its surrounding4.
Both show the same area, that is the Polish-Lithuanian borderland from Grodno to Tykocin.
Studies conducted so far provide little information on these cartographic objects. The archivists
* This paper was written as part of a research project funded by the National Science Centre OPUS-16
(contract no. UMO-2018/31/B/HS3/00846), entitled “Social and Economic Significance of Military Camps and
Garrisons in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (16th–18th centuries)” [“Społeczne i gospodarcze znaczenie
obozów i garnizonów wojskowych w państwie polsko-litewskim (XVI–XVIII wiek)”].
1
See Alexandrowicz S., Łuczyński J., Skrycki R. 2017.
2
This is a puzzling phenomenon, as this area had been covered by cartographic research for over a hundred
years, that is from the first half of the sixteenth century, as it was there that the oldest property maps were cre-
ated. We know of a map from 1527/1528, which depicts the upper course of the Rospuda River, and of another
map from 1536, on which the borders of the Knyszyn and Rajgród-Goniądz estates are marked. There are three
other maps related to this area, which were probably drawn in the years 1560–1561, Alexandrowicz S. 1966.
3
Laszuk A. 1999, p. 17–18, 31–32.
4
BAN, SRK, Osn. Op. 286 and 288, respectively.
490 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

Fig. 1. Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne, Biblioteka Akademii Nauk,

Sankt-Petersburg, Sobranie Rukopisnych Kart, Osn. Op. 286 [Библиотека Акадэмии Наук,
Санкт-Петербург, Собране Рукописных Карт, Осн. Оп. 286]
Ryc. 1. Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne, Biblioteka Akademii Nauk,
Sankt-Petersburg, Sobranie Rukopisnych Kart, Osn. Op. 286 [Библиотека Акадэмии Наук,
Санкт-Петербург, Собране Рукописных Карт, Осн. Оп. 286]

have only calculated the scale, made measurements, and concluded that they tentatively date back
to the first half of the eighteenth century5. These valuable cartographic sources were introduced
to Polish historiography by Stanisław Alexandrowicz6. Three years earlier, Alexander Sharymov
5
Aleksandrov B.V. 1946, p. 282.
6
Alexandrowicz S. 2012, p. 205–206.
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 491

had proposed that they were authored by Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de Guerin7. In this paper,
I conduct a cartographic analysis of both maps and verify the existing findings about them.
The methods of research on old maps can be divided into geographical/historical (the
analysis of verbal description and the represented space) and cartographic/mathematical (ac-
curacy analysis)8. Apart from the mimetic map-territory relationship, I also refer to critical
cartography, which stresses the subjective character of such sources9. The object of study in this
article is toponymy, and the main aim is to prepare a complete list of toponyms occurring on
the maps (see Table 1)10. In addition, the comparison of the collected data with other historical
sources will allow to assess whether the authors of the cartographic sources in question used
older printed maps when preparing them. This will also provide the answer to the question about
the influence of the analysed works on maps produced later, in the 18th century. The above-
mentioned geographical/historical research will be the basis for cartographic/mathematical
analysis. I will use it to make a distortion grid (Fig. 4) and to calculate the scale and the surface
area of both maps11. I will do so with reference to distances between the main settlements, re-
ferred to as stable points (Tables 3 and 4). Further detailed studies concerning the authors of the
maps, the circumstances of making those two cartographic works, the use of the maps for
military purposes and the analysis of the road network are discussed in another article12.

I. Characteristics of the maps13

The first map is entitled on the reverse Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne
(hereinafter: Carte, Fig. 1). There is no grid of geographical coordinates, and it only contains
a simple graphic scale with a distance scale (see Chapter 3). On the map, a compass rose was
drawn that shows sixteen directions without names. From cardinal directions, north and south
were marked out. The map has a north-eastern orientation (north on the compass rose is inclined
by 40° to the west). The size of the map is 51 × 31 cm (sheet: 53 × 33 cm). It was drawn by
a French-speaking person, which follows from the fact that names of countries, as well as in-
formation about bridges, mills, crossings, and springs of rivers are written in this language. The
author was utterly unfamiliar with Polish phonetics and spelling, hence the significantly
twisted toponyms (see Table 1). The map was drawn with black ink and there is no legend on
it. Neither does it bear any information about the authorship and date of execution. It presents
a relatively narrow area from the town of Grodno to the fortress of Tykocin. The land transport
route that connects the two towns with thirteen settlements and one mill (Moulin) are marked.
The author focused his attention on watercourses, including the whole Biebrza River from its
source (Sowre de la Biebra) to its mouth to the Narew River. A fragment of the Narew River
from the town of Tykocin to the mouth of the Biebrza River is drawn, as well as the right tribu-
tary of the Biebrza River, namely the Ełk River (R. de la Legua), and the left one without a name,
7
Sharymov A. 2009, p. 555–559.
8
Konias A. 1984, p. 64–76.
9
Franczak G. 2017, p. 194–195; Niedźwiedź J. 2019, p. 38; Harley J.B. 1989, p. 1–20.
10
The article does not include a detailed onomastic analysis of toponyms, but it is expected to contribute
to future research in this regard.
11
See Nieścioruk K. 2004, p. 273–281; Szeliga J. 1993, p. 51–66; Alexandrowicz S., Jankowska E. 1989,
p. 134–147.
12
Łopatecki K. 2019 (in print). The reason for dividing the articles was their length. Jointly, the two articles
present the complete historical and cartographic questionnaire proposed in the work: Buczek K. 1974, p. 143–157.
13
Tadeusz Marian Nowak (Nowak T.M. 1988, p. 321) suggested using the term “sketch map” when referring
to cartographic sources created as a result of the army’s march, and “not a map [sensu stricto — K.Ł.], because the
objects in question are not characterized by all three elements of the definition of a map. They use a system of car-
tographic symbols and present a selection of generalized phenomena, but they do not have a mathematically defined
structure”. I consider this argument to be too rigorous in relation to the pre-mid-eighteenth-century reality.
492 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

which should be associated with the Brzozówka River14. A fragment of the Nemunas (Neman)
River and its left tribute — probably the Lasosna (Lasasyanka) River — were presented in
a schematic and distorted way (its estuary was not recorded). It should be emphasized that the
direction of watercourses was marked with arrows, which was important information. Particu-
lar attention was paid to the crossings on Biebrza and Narew (called passage), which were
marked in red (seven places plus one without the colour15). Two bridges were also included.
The second map is entitled Environs de Grodno et Ticochin par Lambert (hereinafter:
Environs, Fig. 2). The title clearly indicates that it was authored by Joseph-Gaspard Lambert
de Guerin (Ros. Zhozef Gaspar Lamber de Geren), a general-engineer who served in the Russian
army from 1701 to 170616. The analysis of the cartographer’s life shows that this map, as well
as the previous one, had to be created in the first three months of 1706. Its creation was con-
nected with the presence of the Russian army in Grodno who camped there together with allies
that defended themselves against Swedish troops. The deteriorating situation in the city and the
camp (diseases, hunger, and desertion) forced the supreme command to flee from Grodno, via
Tykocin and Brest-Litowsk, to Ukraine. The army marched out on 4 April and reached Tykocin
after five days. In order to carry out this complex operation, a map was prepared, which allowed
assessing the number of columns in which the army could march, and the number of places
enabling the crossing through Narew and Biebrza17.
This cartographic source is similar to the former one in terms of the area represented and
the method of production. It has a similar decorative but more elaborate compass rose, which
consists of thirty-two parts. It has a north-eastern orientation parallel to the previous map (north
is inclined by 44° to the west). It is also made by a person that spoke the French language. The
above premises suggest the two maps have one author. The latter one shows an identical route
from Grodno to Tykocin, but it is more accurate (see Table 1). It also covers a larger area, as it
presents the whole Biebrza Marshes and the Biebrza river basin (the rivers marked on it include:
Netta, Lega, Brzozówka, Sidra), as well as fragments of Nemunas (and the Lasosna River tribu-
tary), and Narew. In the southern part, from Tykocin to Suchowola, it repeats the route pre-
sented on the Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne. As a consequence of the ap-
plication of a similar scale (see Chapter 3) the map was drawn on a larger sheet, 59 × 49 cm (the
map itself is 55 × 45 cm large). As compared to its predecessor, on this map the road network is
much more extended and shows also the connections between Grodno and Augustów or Rajgród.
One bridge and road crossings on watercourses (seven fords) are recorded. Many lakes were
recorded, but without names; in some cases, they symbolize the area of the springs of individu-
al rivers. The author marked the directions of the rivers’ currents (as many as nineteen times),
which in the area of Biebrza Marshes could have been an important orientation guideline.
There is no legend and the settlements are recorded by drawings that depict groups of buildings
usually including a church and some ordinary building complex. In cities, other buildings with
towers are also marked (perhaps a town hall or other places of worship). The largest number of
such objects were drawn in Grodno (six — including one characteristic Orthodox church), Tykocin
(three), and Goniądz (two). The characteristic feature of this map is that it has not been completed.
Not all names of towns and villages written on the map are accompanied by drawings of buildings,
14
The author noted that this river separates the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lituanians and Pouloigne) from
the Crown (the Kingdom of Poland). Currently, Brzozówka is the border between the Białystok and Sokółka
districts.
15
One can only suspect that the red marked crossings were checked by an engineer and cartographer and
could have been fit for military use. Perhaps the unmarked red crossing was no longer passable or had not been
checked. At a town called Zajki, a crossing through a gulch (rather than a river) was drawn.
16
Dankov M.Yu. 2006, p. 113–122; Chernikov S. 2009, p. 705, 709, 732.
17
Łopatecki K. 2019.
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 493

Fig. 2. Environs de Grodno et Ticochin, Biblioteka Akademii Nauk, Sankt-Petersburg,

Sobranie Rukopisnych Kart, Osn. Op. 288 [Библиотека Акадэмии Наук, Санкт-Петербург,
Собране Рукописных Карт, Осн. Оп. 288]
Ryc. 2. Environs de Grodno et Ticochin, Biblioteka Akademii Nauk, Sankt-Petersburg,
Sobranie Rukopisnych Kart, Osn. Op. 288 [Библиотека Акадэмии Наук, Санкт-Петербург,
Собране Рукописных Карт, Осн. Оп. 288]

e.g. Rajgród, Netta, Osowiec are not marked in this way, and the symbol near the mill (Moulin) is
missing18. One of the roads is recorded only in pencil. Obviously, the road on the Lithuanian side
that led from Tykocin to Grodno was completed and stopped at Skindzierz (Seigner).
18
Such a building is recorded on the map entitled Carte.
494 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

II. The toponymy of the maps

The use of maps analysed in this article is very difficult because the geographical names
have been significantly distorted by the French cartographer. Below, in Table 1, I present all the
names recorded in the analyzed cartographic sources together with their current official names,
which will facilitate their geographical identification. In addition, names used in other carto-
graphic sources from approximately the same time are provided in the notes. Additionally,
I listed the main rivers and reservoirs (hydronyms), which are shown on the maps, but without
names19. I present them in the order from Grodno to Lipsk, and then I characterise the objects
along the Grodno–Tykocin route and the road that connects Grodno and Rajgród.
The comparative analysis is based on maps created by the Swedish army in years 1655, 1702
and 170820. The maps by Charles Perthées from 1770 and 1795 are also valuable21, as well as a map
made in 1827 that shows the Biebrza River basin22. Of course, Johann Christoph Textor’s work,
published by Daniel Friedrich Sotzmann in 1807, was also used23. The maps were used to help
reconstruct the routes of the march of troops, and their usefulness was recorded in the comments
to the table (by marking with abbreviations the dates of their creation; Słownik Geograficzny
Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowańskich (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of
Poland and other Slavonic countries — hereinafter SGKP) and parish descriptions from 1784,
published by Wiesława Werner was also used24. The works of Jerzy Wiśniewski, Anna Laszuk and
Marian Butkiewicz that concern the development of settlement in the discussed areas were of
fundamental importance for my research25. The identification of settlements included on maps from
1706 was possible thanks to considerable use of later, 18th- and 19th-centuries sources and studies.
It was possible because location names were not changed after the Great Northern War26.
The analysis of the toponyms clearly shows that the output of Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de
Guerin was not used when creating later cartographic sources (Table 1, see Remarks). This was
due to the cartographer’s escape abroad in 1706, the unfinished work on Environs, and above
all the fact that the handwritten version was not distributed among Polish and Lithuanian com-
manders. Rather than treated as a military source of information, both manuscript maps were
meticulously archived. Sources confirm that both maps were kept in the Geographical Office
in St Petersburg in 173527. The maps did not cover Russian territory at that time, so they were
not put to use. At present, however, they constitute an invaluable source of knowledge on the
Podlasie--Grodno borderland from the turn of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
It is much more interesting to note that when making both cartographic works, their authors
did not refer to the existing printed maps. This statement is confirmed by two facts. First, the
19
On the Environs de Grodno et Ticochin map, there are as many as fifty toponyms. This is a lot. On maps
from the seventeenth century, no more than twenty-three names were recorded in this area (see Fig. 3). For com-
parison, Descriptio Ducatus Polocensis by Stanisław Pachołowiecki contains eight-five toponyms but represents
four times the area, see Franczak G. 2017, p. 205.
20
KA, SK, 5:46; KA, SK, 5:47; RA, WS, Kartor och ritningar, 0039: 00001-00002; Nowak T.M. 1988,
Tabl. 1–11, p. 321–350; Nowak T.M. 1995, p. 197–2009; Łopatecki K., Walczak W., 2011, p. 260–265, 284–287.
21
Perthées C., Mappa szczegulna woiewodztwa podlaskiego zrządzona z innych wielu mapp miescowych
tak dawniey iak y swiezo odrysowanych [...], 1795, AGAD, ZGSA, A.K. 98; C. Perthées, Polonia Secundum le-
gitimas proiectionis stereographicae regulas et iuxta recentissimas observationes adhibitis MDCCLXX, [1770];
Alexandrowicz S. 1990; Madej J. 1987; Ertman A. 2007.
22
Carte du Cours de la ligne de jonction entre la Narew et le Niemen passant par la Biebrza, la Netta, la
chaine des laes d’Augustów, et la Hancza, AGAD, ZGSA, A.K. 129.
23
Textor J.C. 1807, section 5, 5a, 9.
24
Opisy. 1990; Rękopiśmienne. 1994.
25
Wiśniewski J. 1964; Wiśniewski J. 1967; Wiśniewski 1975; Laszuk A. 1998; Butkiewicz M. 1998.
26
Butkiewicz M. 1998, p. 176.
27
Bobrova Ye.I., Murzanova M.N., Pokrovskaya V.F. 1961, p. 193–194; Nevskaya N.I. 2000, p. 140–141.
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 495

analysis of toponyms used by Lambert

shows they are unique, not similar to
any other cartographic sources (see
Table 2). Second, the cartographer
serving the Russian authorities did not
use the settlements recorded on maps
printed before 1706. Ten important
towns known from printed maps were
not recorded: Dowspuda, Kuźnica,
Perstuń, Sokołda, Supraśl, Wasilków,
Choroszcz, Waniewo, Knyszyn, Kol-
no, and Brzeziny (Fig. 3a, 3b).
Military reconnoitre of the
Polish-Lithuanian borderland between
Tykocin and Grodno provided a lot of
information, as compared to the exist-
ing maps. For comparison purposes,
it is worth mentioning the so-called
Radziwiłł Map (Fig. 3a)28. The course
of the Biebrza River is depicted on it Fig. 3a. Map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,
in a very faulty way. Only the lower drawn by T. Makowski, Amsterdam 1631
section and part of the middle section Ryc. 3a. Map of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania,
are depicted, and three tributaries are rys. T. Makowski, Amsterdam 1631
also marked: Netta (which according
to the authors is the beginning of Bie-
brza), Lega (Jegrznia — erroneously
opening into Biebrza or Netta, depend-
ing on the interpretation), and Ełk. Of
the twenty-eight settlements recorded
in Environs, only seven were marked
in the area presented here: Grodno,
Tykocin, Goniądz (on the wrong side
of the Biebrza River), Rajgród (also
on the wrong side), Augustów, Lipsk
(incorrectly marked away from the
Biebrza River), Nowy Dwór. No
qualitative change was brought about
by the map of Nicolas Sanson from
1665 that shows Mazovia and Podla-
sie. Environs de Grodno et Ticochin
should be considered the most valua-
ble cartographic monument depicting
the Biebrza River basin until Charles
Fig. 3b. Masovie duché et Polaquie; ou sont les
Perthées created his maps during the platinats de Czersk, Bielsk, et Plocsko,
reign of Stanisław August Ponia- drawn by N. Sanson, Paris 1665
towski.
Ryc. 3b. Masovie duché et Polaquie; ou sont les
28
Łuczyński J. 2013; Alexandrowicz platinats de Czersk, Bielsk, et Plocsko,
S. 1965. rys. N. Sanson, Paris 1665
496 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

Table 1
Toponyms and hydronoms recorded on Environs de Grodno et Ticochin and
Carte d’une partie de la Lithuie et de la Pologne
Tabela 1
Toponimy i hydronimy odnotowane na Environs de Grodno et Ticochin
i Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne
Name Name Identification Remarks
in Environs in Carte
Grodeno Grodeno Grodno City ? SGKP II 831-835
Coiqnouky Kaniuchy 1770 (Karciuchy), 1807 (Kaniuchy)
Besnosofqua [Beznosówka] An unidentified village, perhaps
Bogalówka or Bukowszczyzna (1770)
located on the road from Holinki through
Kurianki to Lipsk
Petit Libsqua Upper course of the 1770 and 1807 marked as the Bobra River
Biebrza River before (Biebrza); in 1702 the lake (Libskimalo)
the tributary of the was recorded
Sidra River near the
village of Rogożynek
[petit tin] Libsqua Lipsk Murowany Manor farm, currently between Siólek and
Kopczany ? SGKP V 294 (Lipsk Muro-
wany), 1702 (Lipskimalo), 1770 (Lipsk)
[River Sidra] Eslang i Sowre River Sidra 1770 (Siderka). Incorrectly attributed as the
de la Biebra spring of the Biebrza River, the word
„Enslang” should be understood as
a broads, or possibly river marshes
Courianqui Kurianka SGKP IV 941 (Kuryanki), 1770 (Kurianki),
1807 (Kurianki), 1827 (Kuryanki)
Libska Lipsk City since 1580 ? SGKP V 294
passage Libska passage crossing the Biebrza The crossing was also marked in 1708,
River at the level of 1770, 1795, 1807, 1827
Lipsk
[Lasosna River] Lasosna River The river is the left tributary of the
Nemunas: 1770 (Lososna R.). The lake
symbolically marks the springs of the river
Nouituor Nowy Dwór (Sokółka 1702 (Nowitwar), 1708 (Nowidwor), 1770
district) (Nowydwor), 1784 (Nowydwor), 1807
(Nowydwor)
Doubasna Dubaśno SGKP II 186 (Dubaśna), 1708 (Topaszna),
1770 (Dubaszne), 1784 (Dubasno), 1807
(Dubasznia)
passage crossing on the river In 1702 the prepared road through Sidra
Sidra at the level of and then Biebrza was marked
Dubaśno village
Rosanistoq Różanystok SGKP IX 858, 1702 (Rosaniistock), 1784
(Rozanystok), 1770 (Rózanystzok), 1795
(Różany Stok), 1807
Donbroua Dąbrowa Białostocka 1708 (Dombrowa), 1770 (Domborwna),
1784 (Dombrowa), 1795 (Dąbrowna), 1807
(Dombrowa), 1827 (Dąbrowa)
Forge [passage between The road and the crossing on the river
Libska passage Biebrza between Świerzbutowo and
and Echenky] Kobylisze are shown: 1770, 1795, 1807
Grogiska Grodzisk 1708, 1784, 1795, 1807 (Grodziska)
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 497

Name Name Identification Remarks

in Environs in Carte
Auchenky Echenky Sztabin The town of Sztabin was founded in 1760,
earlier it was the village of Osinki. The
crossing on the river at the level of Sztabin
was recorded: 1770 (Stablow), 1784 (Sztabin),
1795 (Sztabin), 1807 (Stabin), 1827 (Sztabin)
Chidera R. Chidera River Biebrza 1770 (Bobra), 1784 (Bobra), 1795 (R. Bobr),
[Riviere] from the Sidra 1807 (Bobr fl.), 1827 (R. Bobra)
estuary to the
Brzozówka
estuary
Sourauola Souearola Suchowola SGKP XI 542, 1708 (Suchawola), 1770 (as
above), 1784 (as above), 1795 (as above),
1807 (as above). The settlement is located on
the Olszanka River, which is a tributary of
the Brzozówka River
Passage, Rouda ? There are no equivalents on the maps. These
gitstrof, Retisqua points were not recorded on the Carte, which
suggests erroneous identification
Souronole Suronole [possibly Suchowo] 1708 (Suchowo)
a town currently
non-existent; alter-
natively, it may be
Suchowola marked
for the second time
Seinger Seinger Skindzierz 1702 (Skinsers), 1708 (Skinzers), 1784
(Skindzierz), 1795 (Skindzierz 2x), 1807
(Skindzery)
Presoua [no name] River Brzozówka SGKP I 426-427, 1708 (Brozowa fl.), 1770
(Janowka), 1795 (R. Brzozowka), 1807
(Brzozowo fl.)
Mikichin Mikichin Mikicin SGKP II 331, 1708 (Mykozin), 1795, 1807
(Mikiczyn)
Semogrosqua Semongrosqua Smogorówka SGKP X 888, 1708 (Smogorowka x2), 1795
Goniądzka, (Smogorowka), 1807 (Smugorowka)
alternatively
Dolistowska
Cretz Cretz Krzecze 1708 (Kretz), 1770 (Krzeczy), 1795
(Krzecze), 1807 (Zkrzecze), 1827 (Skrzecze)
La Biebra (x2) La Biebra rzeka Biebrza SGKP I 204, 1708 (Bober v. Pieprs fl.), 1770
(Biebra, Bobr), 1795 (Biebra, Bobra), 1807
(Bobr fl.), 1827 (R. Bobra)
Goignons Guoinons Goniądz city: SGKP II 682
Passago [marked crossing] Passage through No cartographic sources indicate a possible
Biebrza at the crossing. Written sources commonly confirm
level of Goniądz its presence
Ausouiets (no Osowiec SGKP VII 651, 1708 (Ossowiez ? on the left
drawing symbol bank of the Biebrza River), 1770, 1795,
of settlement) 1807, 1827
Passage Auseuieto Crossing on the Crossing marked in 1770, 1795, 1807, 1827
s’ausovieta passage Biebrza River at the
level of Osowiec
Pont Comanse Pont Comanse Swedish bridge, „in- This bridge was marked in 1708
complete bridge”
Tresana Tresana Trzcianne 1770 (Trzana), 1784 (Trzciane), 1795
(Trzciana), 1807 (Trzciana), 1827 (Trzciana)
498 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

Name Name Identification Remarks

in Environs in Carte
Chorise Chortse Szorce SGKP XII 21, 1795 (Szorce Ciborzewo)
Ticochin Ticochin Tykocin Town: SGKP XII 695-698
Moulin Moulin (marked The mill The mill near Tykocin was recorded on the
crossing on Narew) map in 1795 (3x)
Lazy Lazy Łazy Duże or 1795 (Lazy), 1807 (Alt and Neu Lazy)
Łazy Małe
passage [recorded Crossing on Narew Lack of crossings recorded on maps
passage] at the level of the
Łazy village
Zayky Zayky Zajki 1795 (Zayki), 1807 (Zayki)
passage [recorded Crossing on the Lack of crossings recorded on maps
passage] Narew River at
the level of the
Zajki village
[a bridge on Bridge on the Bridge was recorded in 1702, 1795, 1807
Narew at the Narew near the
Tykocin fortress] Tykocin fortress
La Lequa (Lick— R. [Riviere] de la River Ełk It is possible that the outlet of river Ełk to
in pencil) Lequa i Leque (formerly Łek, Biebrza changed in the modern period. On
Lyck) both maps they are located west of Goniądz.
Identically 1770 (Jebrzna R.), otherwise:
1795 (R. Lek), 1807 (Lyk F.), 1827 (R. Lyk)
Reygrod (no Rajgród A city since 1568: SGKP IX 495-496. 1655
symbol of (Raygrod), 1770 (as above), 1795 (as above),
settlement) 1807 (as above), 1827 (Raygród)
[Lake Lake Rajgrodzkie On Carte the river is the right tributary of
Rajgrodzkie and and River Netta, but all sources indicate that it is a
River Jegrznia] Jegrznia (Lega) mistake because it opened into the Ełk River:
1770, 1795, 1807, 1827
Chelistousque Solistówka 1655 (Solistowka), 1770 (as above),
1795 (Szelistowka), 1807 (Sotisowo),
1827 (Solistówka)
[Three lakes The depiction is erroneous. The lake Dręstwo
connected by is probably marked near Solistówka
a river that opens (connected with the Jegrznia River)
into Netta]
Forge Bargłów The settlement is located between Solistówka
Kościelny? and Netta on the route from Rajgród to
(smithy, Augustów: 1655, 1795, 1807, 1827. Located
blacksmith) on the Bargłówka River ? SGKP I 108
Nieta (no symbols Netta 1655 (Nieta), 1770 (as above), 1795 (Neta),
of settlement) 1807, 1827, SGKP VII 5-6
Augustof Augustów A city since 1557: SGKP I 53-54, 1655
(Augustow), 1770 (Augustow), 1784
(Augustow), 1795 (Augustow), 1807
(Augustow), 1827
[Lake Necko] Lake Necko River Netta flows from this lake
La Nietra River Netta SGKP VII 5
Forge i Rouda The settlement Settlement(s) between Lake Biały and Lake
currently nonexist- Studzieniczne: 1770 (Woiciech Ruda), 1784
ent (near Wojciech (Woyciech), 1795 (Woyciech Rudnia), 1807
Street in Augustów) (Ruda), 1827 (Woyciech and Ruda
and Przewięź Woyciech)
[River Sajnica, River Sajnica Lake Studzieniczne and Lake Sajno
Lake Sajno and and Lake Sajno mistakenly combined into one lake
Lake Studzieniczne]
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 499

Name Name Identification Remarks

in Environs in Carte
[Lake Białe] Lake Białe On the map it is north of the connected
Studzieniczne and Sajno lakes
Boudae An unidentified settlement on the route from Lipsk
to Augustów, possibly Balinka Strażnik (1770)
Lituanie Lituanie Grand Duchy The border ran along the Brzozówka River
of Lithuania (Presoua) and then along the Biebrza River
Pouloigne Pouloigne Crown of the
Kingdom of Poland

Table 2
List of town names occurring on the most important maps from the 17th century
and in the works by Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de Guerin.
Tabela 2
Zestawienie nazw miejscowości występujących na najważniejszych mapach z XVII stulecia
i dziełach Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de Guerin

Map of the Grand Duchy Masovie duché Joseph-Gaspard

Contemporary official of Lithuania, et Polaquie, Lambert’s maps,
names of cities 1631 (Fig. 3a) 1665 (Fig. 3b) 1706 (Fig. 1–2)
Augustów Augustow Augustow Augustof
Goniądz Goniadz Gonins / Goriuntz Goignons / Guoinons
Grodno Grodno Grodno Grodeno
Lipsk Lipsk Lipsk Libska
Nowy Dwór Nowijdwor Nowidwo Nouituor
Rajgród Raijgrod Raygrod Reygrod
Tykocin Tijkoijn Tykoczyn Ticochin

The analysis of the road network is not the object of analysis in this article. However, it is
worth noting that both maps from 1706 only include the settlements located near the roads
marked on the maps29. This was related to the military character of the maps, whose aim was to
facilitate the march of the army. When compared to later cartographic (1795) and printed (1784)
sources, the maps prove the permanence of the main communication routes in the early modern
period in the Podlasie-Grodno borderland.
III. Scale and space
The distance scales on both maps and the compass rose suggest that compass-based recon-
noitering of the area along transport routes was conducted. On the first map, there is a linear
scale that shows the distance of three leagues (Eschele de Trois Lieues, Lieues). On the second
coloured source there is a pitch on which four leagues or miles were presented (Eschelle de
quatre Lieues: ou mile30). This information shall indicate whether distances have actually been
recorded using French distance units.
The evaluation of the scale and area presented on the map needs to be clarified. Russian
archivists, in accordance with common custom, calculated the scale of both maps by measuring
the scales on the maps and adjusted them to the measure provided in the legend. The problem
is that the authoritatively assumed basis for the calculation was the French league according to
29
The only exceptions are two towns, Souronole and Seinger, which were to be marked on the incomplete
route running from Tykocin to the east of the roads marked on the map, through Knyszyn, Jasionówka, Korycin,
Janów, Sidra, up to Grodno.
30
Actually, it should be Echelle.
500 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

Table 3
Distances between settlements on the cartographer’s route (prepared by K. Łopatecki)
Tabela 3
Odległości pomiędzy osadami znajdującymi się na trasie kartografa (oprac. K. Łopatecki)

Distance Length
Current distance
Towns and cities on the map of 1 mile/league
in kilometers
(mile/league) in kilometers
Tykocin–Goniądz 3.5 32 9.14
Tykocin–Trzcianne 2 16 8
Goniądz–Krzecze 1.25 8 6.4
Krzecze–Mikicin 2 10 5
Mikiciny–Dąbrowa Białostocka 3.5 28 8
Dąbrowa Białostocka–Różanystok 1 4 4
Różanystok–Nowy Dwór 1 9 9
Nowy Dwór–Grodno 2 20 10
Lipsk–Dąbrowa Białostocka 1 10 10
Lipsk–Augustów 3 30 10
Augustów–Rajgród 2.75 22 8

Table 4
Distances between settlements on the route according to Carte (prepared by K. Łopatecki)
Tabela 4
Odległości pomiędzy osadami znajdującymi się na trasie według Carte (oprac. K. Łopatecki)

Length
Distance on the map Current distance
Towns and cities of 1 mile/league
(mile/league) in kilometers in kilometers
Tykocin–Trzcianne 1.75 16 9.1
Trzcianne–Goniądz 2.5 18 7.2
Goniądz–Krzecze 1 8 8
Krzecze–Mikicin 1.75 10 5.7
Mikiciny–Suchowola 1.5 14 9.3
Suchowola–Sztabin 1 13 13
Sztabin–Grodno 3.5 54 15.4

a measure calculated by Jaen Picard in 1669. In this way it was calculated that Environs de
Grodno et Ticochin par Lambert was drawn up at a scale of 1:111,200, and the other map at
1:89,00031. First of all, we do not know which units the cartographer used, leagues or miles?
The mile itself, and in particular the mile on the lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,
took on different values. There were small, medium and large miles (on the so-called Radziwiłł
Map they measured about 5560, 6336 and 7370 meters, respectively). Even calculations of the
mile length used by the army during two different expeditions from the same year 1579 show
radical differences of up to 62 percent32.
In order to assess the measure used by the cartographer, it is necessary to compare the
distances between the towns marked on the map with the real distances. In this case, it is rela-
31
One league measured by Jean Picard in 1669 was 1/25 of the degree length; the degree had 57,060
toises (the unit was about 1,949 metres), so the league measured 4,448 metres, Gillispie Ch.C. 2004, p. 111–112;
Konvitz J. 1987, p. 9–10.
32
Krzysztof Radziwiłł, while preparing his expedition to Livonia in 1579, made an itinerary in which the
mile should be counted as 8 km, while Stanisław Pachołowiecki’s map of the Polatsk region made at the same
time shows a mile of only 5 km in length, Łopatecki K. 2018, p. 46, 61.
 TWO MAPS OF THE PODLASIE-GRODNO BORDERLINE FROM 1706 501

Fig. 4. Distortion of a kilometre grid of squares with the side of 5 km on the map Environs
de Grodno et Ticochin (prepared by Karol Łopatecki)
Ryc. 4. Siatka zniekształceń o boku 5 km na mapie Environs de Grodno et Ticochin
(opracował Karol Łopatecki)
tively difficult as neither of the maps has clear locators33. Therefore, this is done by assuming
that the villages shown are precisely on the road network marked on the map. Thanks to this
we can confront the distances from the source with reality34. Based on the calculations pre-
sented in Table 3, the adopted distance unit was 7.96 km. Thanks to calculations by Tadeusz
Marian Nowak, we know that in the middle of the seventeenth century the Swedish army used
slightly smaller mile sizes equal to 7.5 km35.
If we accept such a calculation as binding, it will turn out that the map was made at a scale of about
1:199,000 The area shown on the map is approximately 9,800 km2 (109.5 km×89.5 km) (Table 3).
In my opinion, similar calculations cannot be applied to the Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie
et de la Pologne, because in the upper half of the map it is basically an itinerarium pictum (Fig. 1).
These observations are confirmed by the distance between the settlements (see Table 4). In the
33
It is not possible to treat towers marked in every settlement as location points because some cities contain
more such elements.
34
I calculate the distance according to the current shortest pedestrian routes.
35
Nowak T.M. 1988, p. 324.
502 KAROL ŁOPATECKI

northeast, miles denote great distances (13–15.4 km), which would certainly be verified if a mili-
tary engineer had driven this route. The length of a mile in the reconnoitered area (south-western,
Fig. 1) was 7.86 km and in principle corresponds to the calculations made on the basis of Environs.
The scale of the south-western part of the map can be estimated at 1:157.000.
Using the MapAnalyst program36, a distortion grid with a 5 km mesh was prepared on the
basis of 35 stable points. The mean error of location is even 10.95 km. The calculations clearly show
that the map was the result of an erroneous combination of several separately recognized routes.
Some of them were oriented with the use of a compass, while others were not (e.g., the Grodno–Raj-
gród route or the Narew River area with Tykocin). The lack of use of printed maps caused their
erroneous juxtaposition, which led to huge distortions of the represented space on the map37.

IV. Conclusions
Two maps created for military purposes in 1706 by Joseph-Gaspard Lambert de Guerin are
the most valuable cartographic monuments related to the Biebrza river basin up to the time when
Charles Perthées created his works between 1770 and 1795. The analysis of the maps resulted in
a list of seventy-nine toponyms (Table 1), which made it possible to identify or propose their prob-
able contemporary equivalents. The research showed that no other cartographic sources were used
when producing both maps. Lambert’s maps belonged to the Russian army, so they could not be
used later when preparing further maps representing the Podlasie-Grodno borderland. The calcula-
tions conducted show that the units given by the author are miles (not leagues, as suggested by the
legend). Their length recorded on Environs de Grodno et Ticochin corresponds to almost eight
kilometres (7.96) and the map is made at a scale of c. 1:199.000. This work presents the Biebrza
river basin area together with fragments of the Narew and Nemunas Rivers, with a total area of
9,800 km2. The Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne is a combination of an itinerary
(in the north-eastern part) and a map (in the south-western part). The mile length (named in the
cartouche as “league”) is 7.86 km and the scale can be estimated at 1:157.000. The prepared distor-
tion grid reveals the primitive way of making the maps, based on the recognition of the main roads
and an attempt to reproduce them without using other maps or detailed descriptions. As a result,
Lambert erroneously combined the known routes (itineraria) when producing Environs de Grodno
et Ticochin, where the mean error of the marked points is almost 11 km (Fig. 4).
Translated by
Kaja Szymańska
Adress of the Author:
dr hab. Karol Łopatecki, prof. UwB
Wydział Historii i Nauk Politycznych UwB
Plac Niezależnego Zrzeszenia Studentów 1
15-420 Białystok
karollopatecki@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7921-9421

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37
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Dwie mapy granicy podlasko-grodzieńskiej z 1706 roku

W niniejszym artykule zaprezentowano dwie mapy przechowywane w Bibliotece Akade-

mii Nauk w Petersburgu, które przedstawiają obszar kotliny biebrzańskiej i pogranicza podla-
sko-grodzieńskiego. Zatytułowane są one: Carte d’une partie de la Lithuanie et de la Pologne
oraz Environs de Grodno et Ticochin. Oba są dziełem jednego autora. Był nim generał-inżynier
służący w armii Piotra I — Joseph-Gaspar Lambert de Guerin (ros. Жозеф Гаспар Ламбер
де Герен). Obie pochodzą z roku 1706.
W artykule obliczono skalę i wyliczono przybliżoną jednostkę miary użytą przez kartogra-
fa — długość mili. Wskazano również przyczyny błędnych obliczeń przyjętych przez archiwi-
stów rosyjskich. Ustalono 79 użytych na mapie toponimów oraz zaproponowano identyfikację
odnotowanych nazw jezior i rzek.