Ottoman-Habsburg Wars (1521-1791)
Images from eight wars fought between 1570 and 1718
Siege of Vienna, 1683
VIENNA LIBERATA
1683 or laterEtching and engraving; printed on paper; gilt to top edge; no mount | 45.2 x 42.4 cm (image) | RCIN 724024
One of the islands in the foreground is identified as Prater; by reference to RCIN 724018 and present-day topography, the eastern end of the island was known as Tabor (the name is preserved today in the ‘Taborstraße’. There is no indication of the ruins of the settlement of Leopolstadt, which had been burnt down by the Viennese in order to provide an open area of uninterrupted fire just before the advent of the Turks. Instead, the area is occupied by Turkish infantry, batteries and several camels which were used to transport the baggage on the march.
The trenches (labelled ‘Aproci’: approaches) can be seen approaching the Borghi and Biber bastions at the north-east [bottom left] of the city, and also between the Carnez and Wactem bastions to the south (top centre) and towards the Porta Nova bastion to the north-west (bottom right). The confrontation between the Christian and Turkish army is top right, and the Turks are shown fleeing to the east (left) of the view, between their encampments which they left full of their possessions, over which the Polish army had first claim.
This map has been engraved on a previously worked copperplate; the old detail has been imperfectly erased and traces of the old image are particularly noticeable at the bottom of the map and underneath the lettering of the key.
Additional text: [bottom, below title, a key, A-H, to the named gates of the city and the island of Proter; another key, 1-28, to the churches and other principal buildings in the city.]
Condition: two fold lines. Verso: surface dirt; pressure marks can be seen sides from the mounts of items which were kept below this map in a former collection.
Anonymous (cartographer)
Watermark: Indistinct: device in double circle, with letter A on either side of circle
Condition: two fold lines. Verso: surface dirt; pressure marks can be seen sides from the mounts of items which were kept below this map in a former collection
40.7 x 42.4 cm (neatline)
45.2 x 42.4 cm (image)
46.8 x 42.6 cm (platemark)
50.5 x 43.6 cm (sheet)
Printed title:
VIENNA LIBERATA [bottom centre, below view]
Additional text:
[bottom, below title, a key, A-H, to the named gates of the city and the island of Proter; another key, 1-28, to the churches and other principal buildings in the city.]
Annotations:
George III heading: Vienna besieged by the Turks from the 12.th of July to the 13.th of Sep. 1683.
Other annotations: (Recto) [top, left of centre, red pencil:] 1683. (Verso) none.
George III catalogue entry:
Vienna A Plan of Vienna besieged by the Turks and delivred [sic] by the King of Poland and the Duke of Lorraine on the 13.th of Sept.r 1683.
Subject(s)
Vienna, Austria (48°12ʹ30ʺN 16°22ʹ19ʺE)
Page revisions
14 March 2024
Current version
