I would like to give a special thanks and shout out to @naked_history_ on Instagram for the extra knowledge and analysis you have provided about this image.
Who doesn’t love a good map? But I bet you have never seen one like this before?
I posted this map with short explanation to go with it to my Instagram account (@thehistorymonster) and it very quickly caught people’s imagination and generated a brilliant discussion. I was so pleased people enjoyed learning about the map as much as I have.
This was one of a series of satirical political maps produced by Rose in the 19th century. Designed to poke fun at the current political situation, each country is portrayed as an individual that shows the characteristics of the country as imagined at the time.
Russia is depicted as a monstrous octopus with its tentacles spreading across Europe as rampant nationalism drove the European powers to grab as much land and territory as possible to increase their empires and therefore prestige on the world stage. Having seized Turkey which was known as the Ottoman Empire, this is showing Russia’s ambition to gain Constantinople that failed during the Crimean War. The Ottoman Empire as referred to as the “Sick Man at Bosphorus” or ” the Sick Man of Europe” alluding to the Empire’s crippling debt and weakening of it’s territory. Therefore, for Russia, she was ripe for the taking. Greece is depicted as a little crab, nipping at the arm of Turkey, probably annoying them even further, as they had just received independence.
The Octopus has encircled Poland, tightening it’s grip on the volatile state. Russia had to quash two Polish uprisings in an effort to quell an independent Poland.
Rash Hungary is being held back from attacking Russia by its more cautious sister Austria. Even though Austria Hungary was one constitutional monarchy, it had been founded 10 years earlier and was struggling with a desire to mark itself as a power on the world stage. The fact that Austria is holding Hungary back could suggest Rose’s impression that although itching for a fight may improve international standing, it would be premature and rash, hence caution needs to be applied.
France is seen to be timidly cleaning her weapons, possibly referring to the recent French defeat by the Germans with the German Emperor being crowned in Versailles in 1871.
Germany is seen to be using one arm to hold Russia back as much as possible, potentially referring to the high regard for the German (particularly, the Prussian) military implying that Germany could stand against Russia if needed. The Prussian himself is Otto Von Bismark, the man responsible for the unification of Germany in 1871.
Italy and Spain are shown as uninterested in the advance of the octopus. Italy is making a toy of the Pope and Spain is having a nap.
Britain is depicted as the stoic and steady John Bull, ready to dive in should Russia threaten her interest in the Suez Canal. Queen Victoria had just been made Empress of India so at this point Britain is content to watch and wait due it’s self assurance and self confidence as she possesses the an empire on which the sun never sets.
For more articles on modern history, see below:
Commerce and Conquest: A Brief History of the British East India Company
Commerce and Conquest: How One Company Went From Humbly Importing Spices and Tea to England, to Becoming a Coloniser of Nations.
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Nice one. Vichy France produced a fascinating map depicting Churchill as an octopus, spreading his tentacles over Africa.
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I saw that on the documentary I was watching about these political maps which was where I first came across Frederick Rose’s map. It was fascinating how the use of the octopus was repurposed for the different political aims.
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