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Original fileFortification Plan of Győr
Wehranlage mit Bastionen (Györ)
About This Work
The image is a black-and-white topographical print showing a geometric fortress with angular bastions surrounded by water on two sides, where the rivers 'Danubius' and 'Raab' meet. Inside the fortress walls, several small stick-like figures are depicted in various poses, including some appearing to hold pikes or weapons. The drawing is contained within a larger page of Latin text, which provides historical context regarding the fortress's capture and strategic design.
This illustration originates from Robert Fludd's 'Utriusque Cosmi Maioris scilicet et Minoris metaphysica, physica, atque technica Historia' (1617–1621), illustrating the application of geometry and natural philosophy to the art of war and defensive architecture.
Inscriptions(Latin)
384 TRACT.II. PART. VI. LIB. I. C A P. XVI. De propugnaculorum irregularium simplicium exemplis. Chavarino vel Ciavarino est fortissimum Hungariæ oppidum, ereptum Christianis per Turcas, & jam iterum anno 1603. duce Comite de Schwartzenberg recuperatum, septem munitur Bulvardis optime dispositis, & præterea concursu duorum fluminum magnorum, nempe Raab & Danubii, ex omni parte fortius redditur; Secundum igitur loci positionem (præsertim, quia aqua naturaliter munitur) irregularem obtinuit figuram in sua fundatione, secundum quam corpus illius hic exprimimus. Fluvius Danubius Fluvius Raab Est etiam propugnaculum quoddam Hollandiæ, Bommena dictum, undequaque aquis munitum, quod secundum eius situm 4. bastionibus vestitur. Hic autem vere depingitur, Num.1. Crimpen etiam oppidum valde munitum à Principe Orangiæ obsessum & oppugnatum anno 1576. cum suis 5. bastionibus atque munimentis naturæ hoc in loco secundum loci sedem descripsimus, Num.2.
Translation
384 TRACT II. PART VI. BOOK I. CHAPTER XVI. Examples of simple irregular fortifications. Chavarino or Ciavarino is a very strong town in Hungary, taken from the Christians by the Turks, and now again in the year 1603, under the leadership of Count von Schwarzenberg recovered, fortified with seven well-disposed bulwarks, and furthermore, by the confluence of two great rivers, namely the Raab and the Danube, made stronger from every side; Therefore, according to the position of the place (especially because it is naturally fortified by water), it obtained an irregular figure in its foundation, according to which we represent the body of it here. River Danube River Raab There is also a certain fortress in Holland, called Bommena, fortified on all sides by waters, which according to its position is covered with 4 bastions. This is truthfully depicted here, No. 1. Crimpen, also a strongly fortified town besieged and attacked by the Prince of Orange in the year 1576, with its 5 bastions and natural fortifications in this place, we have described according to the location of the place, No. 2.
Connected Texts
Robert Fludd
This print is an illustration from his multi-volume philosophical work Utriusque Cosmi, specifically concerning mechanical and military arts.