The Bulwark of Christendom: the Turkish Sieges of Vienna 1529 & 1683-The Sieges of Vienna by the Turks by Karl August Schimmer & The Great Siege of ... of King John Sobieski by Count John Sobieski

by Karl August Schimmer, Henry Malden, John Sobieski

The struggles for the city that saved Europe from the Ottoman Turkish Empire



The battle between the Islamic east and the Christian west raged for centuries. Its principal battleground was eastern Europe and upon the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Western Europe was distanced from the fray, perhaps to the extent that its people rarely understood the sentiments of those who lived and fought on the perennial front line of a conflict which had the potential, if unchecked, to overwhelm every European nation. The conquering armies of the crescent banner frequently swept westward, but it was in Austria, before the walls of Vienna, that the machinations of Ottoman sultans were eventually confounded. The city was besieged on two notable occasions, both of which are graphically recounted in the pages of this book. This city, which became emblematic of music and romance in later, more peaceful times, was the bastion that hurled back the Turks from the West. On the second occasion Vienna was surrounded in 1683, John Sobieski, King of Poland, earned immortal fame after rescuing the besieged garrison by charging into the Turkish encampment at the head of his winged hussars. The dramatic story of that momentous action provides a riveting account which is also included in this unique Leonaur edition.

Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket; our hardbacks are cloth bound and feature gold foil lettering on their spines and fabric head and tail bands.

272 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Robert Clancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This historical record of the sieges of Vienna, one in 1529 and the more famous one in 1683, gives a good account of the battle between Ottoman expansion and European Christianity. Interspersed with the actual history of events are several letters written by Polish King John Sobieski to his French-born Queen in Warsaw. I believe this book was written in the 19th Century, or so it seems. Some antiquated mindset to events that seems anecdotal instead of historically pure. A combination of the author's opinion and true historical events, which makes it slightly un-academic and factual. Overall an informative account of the two sieges of Vienna and events leading up to and after the battles.

[Aidan Sligh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book other than some clunky writing in some parts but I mainly chalk that up to the language and style of writing of the day when this was originally written back in the 1800s.