Map and view of Brno, 1645 (Brno, South Moravian Region, Czech Republic) 49°11ʹ42ʺN 16°36ʹ28ʺE

Two maps of Brno, besieged between 3 May and 23 August 1645 by the Swedish army under the command of Lennart Torstensson, Count of Ortala (17 August 1603-7 April 1651) against the defence of the city by Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches (16 August 1608-12 August 1682) resulting in the lifting of the siege by the Swedes following the withdrawal of support by Transylvanian soldiers. Thirty Years War (1618-1648) Oriented with south-west to top (compass rose).

The left-hand map shows, at a larger scale than the accompanying map, the trenches and approaches surrounding Špilberk (or Spielberg) Castle on the south-west side of the town. The right-hand plate shows, at a smaller scale, the whole town and the sourrounding camps of the Swedes together with the trenches and field fortifications, lines of circumvallation and ruined, roofless houses and the approaches of ‘Mortaign’ (possibly Kaspar Kornelius Mortaigne de Potelles [1609-18 July 1647]) and ‘Altenblaw’ (Altenblau) on the west side and the approaches of ‘Obrist Poichel’ (Jörgen Paykull 2 February 1605-1 February 1657) on the east side of the city. This smaller-scale map appears to have been updated by the addition in outline of a line of fortification which has been engraved over the original detail.

The smaller-scale map on the right-hand plate carries letter and numbers which relate to a key which is not present in the collection. The two coats of arms which appear on the right-hand plate have not been identified specifically (they are not those of either Torstensson or de Souches) but relate to the Habsburg/Holy Roman Empire.