SANCTONICOLAUM vulgo S. Nicolas Oppidum in Superiore Hungaria .. [Torokszentmiklos]

Bird's-eye view of the fortified city of Törökszentmiklós by Braun and Hogenberg after G. Hoefnagel, from the rare 6th and last volume of 'Theatri praecipuarum Totius Mundi Urbium'.
CARTOUCHE: Sanctonicolaum, in the vernacular Törökszentmiklós, a town in Upper Hungary near Zolnochium, set on fire and abandoned by the Turks on the arrival of Emperor Maximilian. 20 October 1595. Procured by Georg Hoefnagel.
COMMENTARY BY BRAUN (on verso): "The soil of the surrounding farmland is very fertile for vines, grain, and root crops. For this reason, the Turks would have liked to stay longer, as is clear from the splendid mosque, the baths, and other fine houses they built here. Particularly as it was also a real robbers' den and well situated for good booty. [...] After the Christians had captured Esztergom, Weissengrad, and other castles and fortresses, the Turks became so stricken with fear that they abandoned not only this but also other fortresses and fled without good cause."

The Turkish fortress is shown from a birds-eye perspective looking towards the east. It lies to the east of Szolnok and is shown at the moment when many of the buildings are going up in flames or have already been destroyed.


Reference: Van der Krogt 4, 41:1.6