Ottoman army at Vienna, 1683

ORDINANZA CON LA QVALE L’ESERCITO OTTOMANO E VENVTO SOTTO VIENNA ALLI XII LVGLIO MDCLXXXIII

A view of the order of march of the Ottoman army, commanded by Grand Vizir Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha (1634/5-1683), on its way to Vienna on 12 July 1683. Great Turkish War (1683-99), Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1526-1791), Polish-Ottoman War (1683-99).

The copperplate on which this print was engraved was scratched, particularly along the bottom. Guidelines for the lettering are clearly visible, together with what appear to be a trial outline engraving, in a different position, further to the left, of the first word: ‘ORDINANZA’.

The symbols of the sun, star and moon symbolise the sky elements sacred to Turkish beliefs. The three leading formations, carrying the shovels and picks that are depicted on the flag of each, were probably the engineers who were to carry out the siege works. Each cannon, mounted on its gun carriage, is pulled by two horses; they are followed by a line of trumpeters and then by massed ranks of infantry, both in line and square formation. Some of the infantry appear to be holding muskets or other firearms, while the others, and part of the cavalry, are armed with pikes. The baggage is transported by camel.

For further reading, see:
R. Murphey, Ottoman warfare 1500-1700, New Jersey, 1999, p.121.

Condition: one fold line. Verso: some offsetting from another example of the same image.