Siege of Vienna, 1683

VIENA D’AVSTRIA

A medium oblique view/map of the siege of Vienna, 14 July-12 September 1683, by the Ottoman army, commanded by Grand Vizir Merziflonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha (1634/5-1683) which culminated in a victory for the Holy League (Poland, Holy Roman Empire), commanded by Jan III Sobieski, King of Poland (1629-96) following the Battle of Vienna on 11-12 September 1683. Great Turkish War (1683-99), Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1526-91), Polish-Ottoman War (1683-99). Oriented with north to top (cardinal points) [but actually to north-east].

This map shows Vienna in outline, with its fortified walls all the bastions of which are named. The church of ‘S. Stefano’ is drawn in high oblique view and the Habsburg standard of the Holy Roman Empire, flying from a post in the middle of the city space, symbolises Habsburg control of the city. The Turkish army is shown to the north-west, south-west, south and south-east of Vienna, with the camp and pavilion of the Grand Vizir, shown here on horseback, bottom right. Turkish infantry and cavalry, with the Janissaries, assault the city on all landward sides. The army of the Holy League is encamped on the other side of the Danube.

The attribution of this map to the dal Pozzo collection is very tentative and is based only on the fact that it is an Italian map and that it is also an earlier state of the Dal Pozzo collection map at RCIN 724021, q.v. for the differences in detail.

Condition: eight fold lines; formerly folded to 11.5 x 8.2 cm; heavy wear along folds; brown stains, possibly from water, more extensive and pronounced on verso. Verso: surface dirt; brown discolouration from the paste; right edge: old paper repair to tear.