Lot 3718

Description

Germany, Breisach (besieged by the Swedish), klippe silver forty eight batzen, 1633, (Mailliet XIX,5; KM. 3). Good very fine and rare.

Ex Spink-Glendining, London Auction 19th November 1975, (Lot 625, illustrated). Bernard of Saxon-Weimar had as his main target the Imperial fortress of Breisach. This was a strong place for during the whole war the city had always been occupied by Imperial forces. To build up an effective siege Bernard demanded that Freiburg's City Council help with the civil engineering work. A delegation from Freiburg lead by a Bohemian nobleman and officer in the Swedish army Friedrich Ludwig Kanoffski von Langendorff goes and sees Bernard but instead of consenting support to the delegation he complains about plundering, robbery and arson committed by his troops. Bernard flies into rage shouting and calling them names in an interesting mixture of German, French and Latin. It is not known whether Freiburg's help would have considerably shortened the siege but it takes Bernhard eight months before Breisach opens its gates. Of the 4000 inhabitants only 200 had survived who at the end had been fighting among themselves for the few rats left over as their only food. Cardinal Richelieu is full of joy. Bernhard however proclaims Breisach as capital of a Royal Saxon Government. To mark the festivities Freiburg has to ring all the church bells until the clapper of the biggest bell broke into pieces. In 1633 the attack of Breisach occurred. The catholic troops of the emperor were able to conquer and plunder the castle which before was occupied by the Swedes who were supported by the Protestant inhabitants of Ihringen. According to the reports about 15.000 litres of wine were taken. The goods of the inhabitants of Ihringen which were stocked in the castle, were totally lost. Reports tell about a loss of 200 horses and about 300 pieces of cattle, which gives a reference to the size of the castle. After several severe quarrels the castle finally burned down the emperors occupying forces.