Komárno (Comorra)

The original copperplate engraving from 1595, framed under museum-quality anti-reflective UV glass.

Based on a drawing by Joris Hoefnagel, it was engraved by Franz Hogenberg, court documentarian at the imperial court of Rudolf II in Prague.

In the middle of the sheet is a Latin inscription referring to the author: Communicavit G. Houf. Ao 1595, depict. a filio.

Translation: "Provided by G. Houf. In 1595, drawn by his son." (i.e., the drawing was provided by Georg Hoefnagel and executed by his son Joris Hoefnagel).

This engraving can be found in the collections of institutions such as the Library of Congress, the British Library, and the British Museum.

The engraving depicts the fortified town of Komárno (Latin: Comorra) located at the confluence of the Danube and Váh rivers during the Turkish wars. In the upper part of the engraving, to the right of the bastion fortress, is a depiction of the civilian town, whose origins date back to the 11th century, when a royal border fortress existed here. After the Tatar invasion in the 13th century, it was fortified and developed; the first written mention dates back to 1265.

Historical context.

At the time the engraving was made, Hungary was largely occupied by Ottoman troops, and the border between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary ran roughly along the line of today's southern Slovakia. The fortresses on this defensive line, one of which was Komárno, were mentioned at the royal courts of Europe as key points of defense against Ottoman expansion and were perceived as an important part of the defense of Christian Europe. The dominant feature of the scene is a regular Renaissance fortress with a star-shaped ground plan, surrounded by massive walls with corner bastions. This is the so-called Old Fortress, built between 1546 and 1557 on the orders of the Habsburg ruler Ferdinand I as part of the anti-Turkish defense system of the Kingdom of Hungary. Komárno was part of a wider system of modern bastion fortresses in this defensive line, which also included Nové Zámky and Győr, modernized according to the principles of the so-called trace italienne. The fortification is surrounded by water, with the Danube (Danubius fluvius) forming a natural line of defense. The interior of the fortress is filled with buildings, including a church tower and farm buildings. In the second half of the 16th century, the garrison of the fortress usually consisted of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 men, but in times of immediate military threat, its number could temporarily exceed 3,000 soldiers, including artillerymen, cavalry units, and auxiliary personnel.

The Danube and military vessels. 

Both military and commercial vessels can be found on the Danube River, some of which are equipped with cannons. In the 16th century, several types of ships were used on the middle Danube. Light and fast boats designed for patrolling and transporting infantry were called seagulls (Hungarian: sajka) and were mainly used by units of so-called seagulls. Heavier river boats equipped with cannons served as gunboats and provided fire support to fortresses and shore units. In addition to these, flat-bottomed supply vessels suitable for shallower sections of the river were used to transport building materials, food, and military supplies. In the 16th century, the Danube was not only a line of defense but also a major logistical artery along which military units, artillery, and supplies were transported. The upper panel depicts bombing and military clashes on the water, underscoring the strategic importance of the city as a border fortress of the Kingdom of Hungary.