VISAPOUR, CAPITALE DE ROYAUME DE DECAN UNE DES PLUS GRANDES VILLES DE L’ASIE - 1719 Pieter Van der Aa

According to the title, this view shows the city of Visapour, capital of the Kingdom of Decan and one of the greatest cities in all of Asia. However, I’ve been unable to find any real modern scholarship on its location or history, and it’s possible that something may have been overlooked.

According to one translation of contemporary sources, Visapour was a province affiliated with the Deccan, itself a vague term encompassing a large region in central India. Various sultanates, known as the Deccan Empires, ruled until the late 17th century.

It’s likely this view captures one of their medieval capitals, surrounded by strong walls and towers. A variety of architecture is depicted, and two palace buildings are labeled in Dutch and translated into French in the lower left. The foreground includes a number of native, elephants, camels, and what appears to be a delegation of Europeans (likely Dutch).

The view was published in Leiden by Pieter Van der Aa around 1719.