A Brill Calendar: September 12

Few events in European history are so replete with drama as the Turkish siege of Vienna during the summer of 1683.

Not to mention its spectacular outcome, the relief by the united armies of Christian Princes, realized on September 12 of the same year. The Western triumph led to the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy feeling safe and comfortable in the geographical heart of Central Europe. And almost as soon as the danger of a Muslim invasion was staved off, Western Europe became infatuated by French culture and civilization, personalized in the Sun King Louis IVX and Versailles.

It is seldom that a sudden eclipse of danger is followed, without any interruption to speak of, by a consistently executed programme of cultural expansion, with the Habsburg Hofburg for its epicentre. Within half a century, Vienna witnessed an astounding metamorphosis: from a largely medieval capital to an elegantly designed European metropolis. One mercenary soldier embodies this unique shift. His first battle, Vienna’s siege happened when he was almost 20 years of age; and with 25 guilders in his privy purse. When Franz-Eugen, Prinz von Savoyen-Cardigan died, on April 24 1736, he had a millions to his name, having served three emperors; Leopold I, Joseph I and Charles VI.

Marlborough’s French friend liked to say that Leopold was his friend, Joseph his father and Charles his master. When Maria Theresia became Empress (1740), Vienna had become the most elegant centre of a new urban and artistic world radiating a new and unexampled cultured confidence.