Neus (Neuss)

Bird's-eye view of Neuss, published in the famous Stedenboek by Braun and Hogenberg.

TRANSLATION OF CARTOUCHE TEXT RIGHT: The Roman king Philip captured Neuss around 1206 and gave it to Archbishop Adolph who was deposed by the Pope. In 1474 the city was besieged for almost a year without success by Charles the Bold. In 1496 the main church was set on fire by lightning. In 1573 the upper street was ravaged by a fire. In the night of 10 May 1585 Neuss was conquered by Count Neuwenarius. After having besieged for several days Neuss was stormed and captured by the Prince of Parma on 26 July 1586. A few hours later it was almost completely destroyed by an unfortunate fire.

COMMENTARY BY BRAUN: "The shape of Neuss is long rather than wide and the Erft runs along the long side before flowing into the Rhine. The city is very well protected by the river and needs no other moats. From the Rhine another side arm flows up to the city, joining the Erft in front of the city. For this reason even big ships with their cargoes can sail directly to the city from the Rhine."

In this view from the east Neuss is shown from across the Rhine, at the river's confluence with the Erft. The massive city wall was built around 1200. In 1209 building began on the minster of St Quirinus, which rises above the rest of the city on the right. It is the city's landmark and one of the most important late Romanesque churches on the Lower Rhine. In the 15th century the city gloriously resisted a one-year siege by Charles the Bold, whereupon Emperor Frederick III granted Neuss customs exemptions, the legal status of a Hanseatic city, a new coat of arms with the imperial eagle and the imperial crown, and the right to mint and issue coins. However, the city lost its wealth and its status after the Cologne War and a disastrous fire in 1586. This plate is a bird's-eye view seen from an angle of the city after it had been rebuilt. From the east it gives a compact impression of the fortifications with the closely set towers, the upper and lower gates, the minster of St Quirinus and the tall, stately town houses. (Taschen)

More about Frans Hogenberg.

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Reference: Koeman, B&H4, Taschen