БЕРАСЦЕ, МАЙ 1657 Г. ШВЕДСКІЯ НАМАГАННІ І ТРАНСІЛЬВАНСКАЯ РОСПАЧ
Brest-Litovsk in May 1657: Swedish Efforts and Transylvanian Despair

Author(s): Anatolij Nikitczik
Subject(s): History
Published by: Instytut Badań nad Dziedzictwem Kulturowym Europy
Summary/Abstract: The history of Brest-Litovsk is inseparably connected with the SecondNorthern War (1655–1660). Then, the town and the castle became a strategicfortification. As a result, it was occupied by the Swedish-Transylvanian armyin 1657.Epistolographic sources created by the main participants of military actionsin May 1657 include a lot of information that is important for researchersstudying the history and architecture of Brest-Litovsk. The most outstandingof the documents is the letter from prince George II Rákóczi to Swedish kingCharles X Gustav, written on May 20, 1657. That source includes a detailed descriptionof the Brest fortress and defence capabilities. Swedish military engineerErik Jönsson Dahlbergh took part in the work on fortifying Brest-Litovsk.The full use of information included in the letter is possible thanks to the preservedcartographic documentation from the mid. 17th century.The prince’s letter contains three sections devoted to different subjects.The first includes current political information connected with the activities ofSwedish-Transylvanian-Cossack coalition. The second part is a list of cannons,ammunition and powder stored in the Brest castle. The third section, titled “Inmunienda Brestia considerationes sunt hac”, presents some recommendationsconnected with the improvement of the fortification and the town. The articleincludes a detailed analysis of Rákóczi’s letter using the plans and panoramasof the town prepared then.

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