Letters from Vienna #199
Letter to Baron Bethell #22
A virtual guided tour of Vienna, Part 14, The Mölker Bastei I
Dear James,
A good place to start a guided tour of Vienna is an island from a bygone age: the Mölker Bastei, which owes its name to the Melk monastery. The bastion was built in the 16th century after its predecessor had proven less than effective during the “first Turkish” siege of Vienna in the autumn of 1529.
In 1683 the Turks learned from their mistake: they attacked in the summer instead of the autumn. The history of the siege is not uninteresting:
“The peace between Leopold I and the Ottomans concluded on August 15, 1664 was valid for 20 years. In 1682 it became clear that the Ottomans would refuse an extension (on August 6, 1682 the Ottoman Empire declared war), so the Emperor made alliances with Bavaria (January 26, 1683), Poland (March 31, 1683) and Saxony; a contingent of the Holy Roman Empire was also assured; Pope Innocent XI sent money.”
“Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha was entrusted with the leadership of the Ottoman army and received support from the Hungarian opposition under Imre Thököly.”[1]
On July 7, the imperial court fled Vienna and by July 13, an imperial garrison of 11,000 men had entered the city to support the 5,000 members of the militia and volunteers; a day later the siege began.
Kara Mustapha set up his tent on the Schmelz and soon began bombarding the walls. His main point of attack was the Burgbastei (roughly where Heldenplatz is located) and Löwelbastei (between the Burgbastei and the Mölkerbastei), both of which finally fell just before the arrival of a relieving army on September 12, 1683. This force was commanded by John III Sobieski and comprised 27,000 Poles, 19,000 imperial troops, 10,500 Bavarians and 9,000 Saxons; it managed to destroy the Ottoman army under Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa in just one day.
The building pictured at the very top, dating from c.1803, is the famous “Dreimäderlhaus”, which got its name after Franz Schubert is said to have simultaneously courted three daughters of master glazier Franz Tschöll, Hannerl, Hederl and Heiderl, a story which was filmed twice: in 1918 and 1958.
Close by is the famous doorway at Schreyvogelgasse 8, where we first see Harry Lime in “The Third Man”.
You’ll forgive my brevity as the next part will be much longer!
Best,
Michael
[1] https://www.geschichtewiki.wien.gv.at/Zweite_T%C3%BCrkenbelagerung_(1683)