Tunetis Urbis, Ac Novae Eius Arcis ...
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Braun and Hogenberg's beautiful bird's-eye view of Tunis from the monumental "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", the earliest systematic atlas of town plans. The plan shows the siege of the city in 1574 by the Ottomans against the Spanish. Ottoman boats in the harbour, with cannons firing and plumes of smoke drifting into the air, surround the city's forts. On land, figures are shown in battle with their spears and bows raised. Control of the city had passed to the Ottoman Empire in 1534 when it was captured from the Hafsid Sultan, Mulai Hassan. A naval expedition led by Charles himself was dispatched in 1535 and the city was quickly recaptured. The resulting protectorate lasted until the Ottomans retook Tunis in 1574, as depicted here. Braun & Hogenberg's publication of this scene was hot on the heels of the siege itself - a nice piece of contemporary reportage nicely juxtaposed with the ruins of ancient Carthage in the background of the map.
region: Maps of Northern Africa |
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