Eger, Hungary,- Agria vulgo Erla.

RARE only included in part VI of his town book. Panoramic town-view of Eger in Hungary by G. Hoefnagel and son, 1617. Key to four locations, with troupes in battle.

CAPTION: Agria, in German Erlau.

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT: Heavily fortified stronghold in Upper Hungary, often attacked by the Turks and finally conquered and occupied under Mehmed III in 1597. Procured by Georg Hoefnagel, who received it from another in the year 1617.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "This city is called Agria in Latin, after the Agrianians, who lived long ago in Illyria behind the Triballi, then moved across the Danube and settled not far from the Tisza. [...] In my opinion, it would be closer to the truth if one said that it got its name from the little river on which it lies, and which bears the same name. But without any doubt fun can be made of those who claim that the name comes from the Latin word "ager" or "agrestis", which translated means "rustic", and this is because they are supposed to have once been rustic and uncouth people. As if the Latin language were so common among rustic and crude people that they would have given their towns Latin names!"

At the time of this plate, Eger was occupied by the Turks. The well-protected fortress is viewed from a hill opposite it in the southeast. The partly ruined town is shown on the left, with the Eger flowing past it, and the battle scene on the right illustrates the conflicts to which the town was repeatedly subject at the time. The round building (B) is described as a Balneum (bathhouse). Thermal baths flourished in the town, particularly during the period of Turkish rule. In the 10th century, Hungary took possession of the area around Eger. An episcopal see since the beginning of the 11th century, the town prospered in the 15th century. After successfully resisting several attacks by the Ottoman armies, it fell to the Turks in 1596 and was not recaptured until 1687.

Braun G. & Hogenberg F. and the Civitates Orbis Terrarum.

The Civitates Orbis Terrarum, or the "Braun & Hogenberg", is a six-volume town atlas and the greatest book of town views and plans ever published: 363 engravings, sometimes beautifully colored. It was one of the best-selling works in the last quarter of the 16th century. Georg Braun wrote the text accompanying the plans and views on the verso. A large number of the plates were engraved after the original drawings of Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600), who was a professional artist.
The first volume was published in Latin in 1572, the sixth volume in 1617. Frans Hogenberg created the tables for volumes I through IV, and Simon van den Neuwel created those for volumes V and VI. Other contributors were cartographer Daniel Freese, and Heinrich Rantzau. Works by Jacob van Deventer, Sebastian Münster, and Johannes Stumpf were also used. Translations appeared in German and French.

Reference: Van der Krogt 4 - #1196; Fauser - #37; Taschen, Br. Hog. - p.466