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Description

The Braun and Hogenberg view of Györ (Raab) offers a rich and detailed depiction of this strategically important Hungarian city during the late 16th century. Presented in a bird's-eye view, the engraving highlights the confluence of the Rába River and an arm of the Danube, illustrating Györ’s prominence as a fortified town and significant trade hub.

Györ’s bastioned fortifications and the bishop's palace, constructed by Italian military engineers, dominate the image, underscoring the city's role as the Habsburgs’ easternmost defensive bulwark during the Ottoman-Habsburg wars. The palace, located near the Cathedral of Our Lady, reflects Györ’s historical layers, as it was built on the ruins of a Roman temple.

The cartouche text provides a dramatic account of a pivotal moment in Györ’s history: the siege and capture of the city by Sinan Bassa, a commander under Sultan Murad III, on 29 September 1594. This event occurred after an oppressive siege that began on 31 July, following Sinan Bassa's victory over Christian forces on the Island of Schutta. The engraving, dated 1597, was based on a detailed drawing by the Italian cartographer Nicolas Aginelli in 1566, resized and adapted by Georg Hoefnagel for publication. The engraving preserves the memory of Györ’s fall to the Ottomans while emphasizing its military and historical significance.

Braun’s commentary situates Györ within the broader context of European and Roman history, noting its role as an important bishopric and a site of significant trade and industry. Braun further highlights the remnants of Roman occupation, such as old castle walls and Roman tombs, reflecting the town's deep historical roots. He praises the efforts of Emperors Ferdinand I and Maximilian II, who fortified the city with formidable walls, deep moats, and bastions, making it "quite impregnable"—a claim rendered poignant by the city’s temporary occupation by Ottoman forces.

The view includes animated staffage figures that bring the engraving to life and offer a glimpse into the cultural and military diversity of the region. These figures include "Heyducks" (Hungarian infantry), "Hungarian noblewomen," a "Polish knight" (depicted with arrows in his torso), and a "Captive Turk." These elements not only add visual interest but also reflect the complex social and military interactions of the time, emphasizing Györ’s contested status during the wars between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg Monarchy.

The city's historical significance is further illustrated by captions that mark key events, such as Emperor Maximilian II establishing an "impregnable camp" in 1566. This context underscores Györ's importance in the Habsburg defense strategy, particularly after the fall of Buda to the Ottomans in 1541. The Turkish occupation of Györ from 1594 to 1598 left the city nearly destroyed and temporarily renamed as Yanik Kala, meaning "burned mountain." Despite this devastation, Györ began to recover in the 17th century and underwent significant rebuilding in the 18th century, marking its resilience and enduring significance.  

Condition Description
Old Color. German text on verso (ca. 1600).
Reference
Van der Krogt, [Gyor:41]
Georg Braun Biography

Georg Braun (1541-1622) was born and died in Cologne. His primary vocation was as Catholic cleric; he spent thirty-seven years as canon and dean at the church St. Maria ad Gradus, in Cologne. Braun was the chief editor of the Civitates orbis terrarum, the greatest book of town views ever published.  His job entailed hiring artists, acquiring source material for the maps and views, and writing the text. In this role, he was assisted by Abraham Ortelius. Braun lived into his 80s, and he was the only member of the original team to witness the publication of the sixth volume in 1617.

Frans Hogenberg Biography

Frans Hogenberg (ca. 1540-ca. 1590) was a Flemish and German engraver and mapmaker who also painted. He was born in Mechelen, south of Antwerp, the son of wood engraver and etcher Nicolas Hogenberg. Together with his father, brother (Remigius), uncle, and cousins, Frans was one member of a prominent artistic family in the Netherlands.

During the 1550s, Frans worked in Antwerp with the famous mapmaker Abraham Ortelius. There, he engraved the maps for Ortelius’ groundbreaking first atlas, published in Antwerp in 1570, along with Johannes van Deotecum and Ambrosius and Ferdinand Arsenius. It is suspected he engraved the title page as well. Later, Ortelius supported Hogenberg with information for a different project, the Civitates orbis terrarium (edited by Georg Braun, engraved by Hogenberg, published in six volumes, Cologne, 1572-1617). Hogenberg engraved the majority of the work’s 546 prospects and views.

It is possible that Frans spent some time in England while fleeing from religious persecution, but he was living and working in Cologne by 1580. That is the city where he died around 1590. In addition to his maps, he is known for his historical allegories and portraits. His brother, Remigius, also went on to some fame as an engraver, and he died around the same time as his brother.