Deák Antal András: A Duna fölfedezése
Tartalom - III.A DANUBIUS PANNONICO-MYSICUS, 1726
T II E DISCOVERY OF THE DANUBE (1702-1703) is held in the National Library of Vienna, while some of the maps prepared as annexes to the frontier reports are stored in the Military Archives of Vienna, separated from their original context. Many maps remained hidden in the storage spaces of the Military Archives together with Marsigli's reports. They were found only in 1998 through the generous co-operation of friends. Since these maps, which documented both the frontier and its history, were the antecedents to the famous Danube and Carpathian Basin maps published in the Danube monograph and we had either fragmentary or incorrect information about them or even none at all, we shall describe them shortly. Frontier section map 39 (41) 5 3 However well known this map is as an outstanding achievement, not only because of its significance but also in its scope and aesthetic value, a few words must be said about it since even those who have studied the maps in detail bridged any gaps in information concerning its origin and fate with erroneous assumptions. 5 4 First, we should say the name, section map 39, is used following the term accepted in the technical literature. Müller always spoke about 41 sections. It is true that sheets 40 and 41 are not typical maps, they contain the locations of the 96 borderline marks indicated in the individual sections. Thus, the work consisted of a summary sheet (50 x 110 cm), 39 sections (mostly 50 x 66 cm), and 2 folio appendices. 55 When and for whom did Müller draw them? According to the technical literature, he made them on the order of Eugene of Savoy in 1706. At the same time, his letters written to Marsigli show that he himself drew them in 1703 in Nürnberg for Marsigli. We even learn such details that he received 5 florenas per section of the borderline maps, 12 florenas per section for the maps of the states of the Hungarian Kingdom, and only 6 florenas per Danube section despite the fact that he prepared three frontier sections in the time it took him to draw one Danube section. Marsigli paid the same price for the beautiful Mappa Generalis and Mappa Potamographica of the Danube monograph as for the Danube sections. It was not possible to overpay him, since Müller, just like Eimmart the copper difficulties. Time is consumed, debt increases, he said quoting a proverb. 5 6 It also happened that Eimmart, the main partner, spent money on copperplates that had been sent to him for Müller, while Müller had a shortage of the parchments he needed for drawing the maps for the Danube monograph. In his last letter, written on the 12 t h of May 1703, 5 7 Müller gave such a detailed report on the preparation of the map known in the technical literature as section map 39 that it almost seems as if he intended it for his curious descendants. I have completed all the frontier sections, altogether 41 items, together with the summary map 5 8. He also mentioned that although Marsigli had ordered the drawing of the special map of the borderline mounds, he had not yet prepared it, as he had not made the map of Bulgaria and Hungary in the stricter sense (Hungaria vera) either. He hoped, however, that he would be finished with them by the time Marsigli received his letter. We also learn that he was given 12 florenas for drawing the maps of the states of the Hungarian Kingdom. It is here that we first hear that Müllers exceptional talent was noted in the imperial court in Vienna. A certain Mr Schirndorf visited him and invited him to Vienna on Eugene of Savoy's authority. Without Marsigli's assent, however, he did IMAGE No. 6 on page 22: One section of the 39 sectional borderline map IMAGE No. 7 on page 23: 91 situation plans had been ordered to be attached to the 39 sectional borderline map by Marsigli 53 ÖNB Handschriftensammlung C. P. Min. 85; ÖStA KA Kartensammlung , B IX C 829-5, 36 x 63,7 cm 54 Joseph Paldus: Johann Christoph Müller - Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte vaterländlicher Kartographie. Mitteilungen des k. und k. Kriegsarchivs, Dritte Folge. V. Bd. 55 The inscription on the map is: Mappa geographico limitanea in qua imperiorum caesarei et ottomanici confinia in almae pacis carlovitzensis congressu descreta.-.exhibentur... (Map along the geographical boundary showing the borderline fixed by the Karlovic peace...) 5 6 BUB Mss di Marsigli Vol. 82. pp. 52-52. 6. January 1703. 5 7 BUB Mss di Marsigli Vol. 80. B. pp. 164-165. 51 1 Müller counted the two sheets with the locations of the border markers as separate sections. So he consequently spoke about section map 41. 106
