Captain Ivo Visin
(1806-1868) of Prčanj (Boka kotorska, Montenegro) was the commander of
the barque [a two-masted sailing ship] "Splendido" on which he sailed
around the world from 1852 to 1859. Visin was the first Croatian, and
only the sixth sailor in the world to repeat what Magellan did. For
his accomplishment he was awarded the Austrian White Honor Flag,
Merito navale, awarded in peacetime for the results and successes
in navigation on distant seas, in development of naval trade, in
rescuing at sea or some other exceptional deed, merchant-ship captains
for nautical merits. Visin is the only recipient of this honor. The flag is shown flying
over the ship "Splendido" is the Honor Flag with an imperial double
eagle on a white field.
The map in the background is Vincenzo Maria Coronelli's
(1650-1718) map,
Disegno Topografico Del Canale di Cattaro (Topographical Design of
the Canals of Kotor (Boka Katorska)), 1688. It is a detailed
topographical map of the Gulf of Venice and Sea of Dalmatia, in the
Hercag-Novi region of Serbia and Montenegro. It was published in
Coronelli's 13 volume atlas in 1688, and included in his Isolario
dell' Atlante Veneto published in 1696. The map shows the bay, in
Venetian possession, with the exception of Vitaljina and Prevlaka. The
Venetians captured the town of Kotor in 1520 and expanded their
conquest in 1540 and again in 1683-1699.
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