The Sieges of Vienna by the TurksSchimmer, Karl August
History
The Sieges of Vienna by the Turks
Schimmer, Karl August
Turkey -- History -- 1453-1683; Vienna (Austria) -- History
In the evening of the 13th, the infantry of the Imperial army destined
for the garrison of Vienna marched into the city; and now all the
gates, even including that of the Rothenthurm, by which these troops
had entered, were built up and barricaded. On the same day two
summonses in the Latin language were thrown over the counterscarp. They
remained unanswered. The following were the military arrangements for
the defence:—Stahremberg’s principal subordinates in command were the
Generals Daun and Serini; the Brigadiers Souches and Scheffenberg; the
Marquis of Obizzi, commander of the city guard; Colonels the Duke of
Wirtemberg, the Baron von Beck; Counts Dupigny and Heister—all men of
experience and proved courage.[10] The affairs of the city were managed
by a separate and secret college of Imperial Councillors of State,
of which the President was Count Cappliers. The other members were
Count Molart, Marshal of Austria; the Baron von Belchamin; Hartmann
von Hüttendorf, and the Secretaries Haekl and Fux. Among those who
volunteered their services in any capacity, the worthy Bishop of
Neustadt, Leopold Count von Kollonitsch, demands special mention. The
Bishop of Vienna, Emerich Sinellius, had accompanied the Emperor to
Passau, and had thus left the affairs of his see to be administered by
one who by his discharge of spiritual functions, by his expenditure on
works of charity, and by his attendance on the sick and wounded, earned
a reputation as sound and as honourable as could be obtained by others
in the battery or the breach. Nor was his ministry confined to these
sacred functions. He had served as a Knight of Malta in his youth
against the Turks, and his military experience now became scarcely of
less value than his spiritual labours. He was among the most active
at the side of Stahremberg; was his companion daily at the posts of
greatest danger, encouraging the combatants by his example, tending
the wounded, and administering the rites of religion to the dying. The
systematic arrangements for the extinction of fires, for the collection
and distribution of provisions, and for the prevention of extortion
during the siege, were all due to this remarkable man. In the crowded
hospital, where the mien of death is most hideous, he was to be found
dispensing hopes of heaven to those who had no longer hope on earth.
Women, children, and old men, usually the burthens of a besieged place,
were by him organized and disciplined for services which would have
otherwise drawn off defenders from the walls. Through his exertions
also a subscription was set on foot, which, backed by his own liberal
contributions, and those of other leading men, such as Prince Ferdinand
of Schwarzenberg, who contributed 50,000 florins and 3000 eimers
of wine, reached the sum of 600,000 florins. The example of this
prelate was emulated by Maximilian, Count of Trautmansdorf; Charles,
Count of Fünfkirchen; Godfrey, Count of Salzburg; Count Vignoncourt;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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