Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Lefkáda and St Maura, 1684
SITVATIONE / E PROSPETTO DELLA / FORTEZZA DI S. MAVRA / E SVOI BORGHI POSTA / FRA L’ISOLA DI LEVCADA / E LA TERRA FERMA / ASSEDIATA DALL ARMI / VEN.E E AVSILIARIE / li 23 di luglio é resa alle med.me / li 7...
1684 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; gilt edges left, top and right; no mount | 19.9 x 52.7 cm (image) | RCIN 724029
Known as the Castle of Agia Maura or Santa Maura, St Maura was also known by the Greeks as Lucas, Leucada, and Nerilos. Morden describes it thus: ‘tis separated from Acarnania by a Streight of five Paces over, and three or four foot deep in water; the Castle is strong, called St. Mauro, Delivered up to General Morosini, July 1684’. See Geography Rectified: Or, A Description of The World, In all its Kingdoms … Robert Morden, 1693, p.291. The General Morosini referred to by Morden was probably Francesco Morosini (later Doge of Venice; 1619-94) who had been Captain-General of the Venetian forces on Crete and who commanded a Venetian fleet pursuing the Ottomans.
Morosini's fleet of 44 ships – each of them named – are ranged in a semi-circle around the fortress, firing on the walls of the castle. The curved trajectories of the land-based mortar batteries are aimed at the interior grounds of the fortification. The town of ‘Levcada’ (Lefkáda) can be seen to be connected to the castle island by a bridge of 360 arches which was constructed on the orders of Sultan Bagiazit; it was destroyed later by earthquakes. The siege brought an end to Turkish rule, established in 1487, and it reverted to Venetian domination.
Additional text: [along bottom, below view, a key in seven columns, 1-16, to the square of St Maura, the breach made in the walls, the city ditch, contrascarp, village, ammunition store, mortar batteries, soldiers' tents, bridges connecting the castle to the mainland, a spit of land, the village of St Maura, the bridge or aqueduct with 360 arches which brings water from Lefkáda to St Maura, the town of Lefkáda and the salt pans.]
Condition: one fold line. Verso: impressions have been left from the mounts of items formerly placed underneath this print in a different collection.
Giovanni Giacomo Rossi (1627-91) (publisher) [bottom left, below title, in title cartouche:] Data in luce da Gio. Giacomo de Rossi dalle sue stampe in Roma alla Pace / con Priuilegio del S. Pontefice
Watermark: Cropped and indistinct
Condition: one fold line. Verso: impressions have been left from the mounts of items formerly placed underneath this print in a different collection
18.2 x 52.2 cm (neatline)
19.9 x 52.7 cm (image)
cropped (platemark)
20.9 x 53.5 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
SITVATIONE / E PROSPETTO DELLA / FORTEZZA DI S. MAVRA / E SVOI BORGHI POSTA / FRA L’ISOLA DI LEVCADA / E LA TERRA FERMA / ASSEDIATA DALL ARMI / VEN.E E AVSILIARIE / li 23 di luglio é resa alle med.me / li 7. Agosto 1684 [bottom left, in cartouche representing draped, fronged material]
Additional text:
[along bottom, below view, a key in seven columns, 1-16, to the square of St Maura, the breach made in the walls, the city ditch, contrascarp, village, ammunition store, mortar batteries, soldiers' tents, bridges connecting the castle to the mainland, a spit of land, the village of St Maura, the bridge or aqueduct with 360 arches which brings water from Lefkáda to St Maura, the town of Lefkáda and the salt pans.]
Annotations:
George III heading: S.t Maura 23 July 7 August 1684.
Other annotations: (Recto) none. (Verso) [top left, red pencil:] 3/120; [top left, black pencil:] IV/54.
George III catalogue entry:
Maura, S.t Situatione e Prospetto della Fortezza di S. Maura e suoi Borghi posta fra l’Isola di Leucada e la Terra Ferma, assediata dall' Armi Venete e Aussiliare li 23 di Luglio e resa alle med.me li 7 Agosto 1684: da G.G. de Rossi.
Subject(s)
Lefkáda, Ionian Islands, Greece (38°43ʹ00ʺN 20°38ʹ00ʺE)
St Mauro or St Mavra, Lefkáda, Ionian Islands, Greece (38°43ʹ00ʺN 20°38ʹ00ʺE)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
