In 1617, the town of Pápa in Hungary was a crucial, heavily fortified border fortress (végvár) in Lower Hungary, serving as a defense against the Ottoman Empire. Pápa was one of the most important centres of the Protestant Reformation in Transdanubia, and was a key fortress in the Habsburg-Ottoman border system, surrounded on three sides by a moat and protected by a rampart and palisade. It was also a developing market town and served as a regional centre of trade. Although it was a bustling market community there was always a tension as it was a precarious border stronghold constantly facing the threat of Turkish incursion.
The era was marked by the presence of foreign mercenaries, with records from around 1600–1617 indicating mutinies by Walloon troops serving under the Habsburg crown, sometimes leading to the execution of soldiers by the Ottomans.
The town and estate were heavily involved in the battles of the era before coming into the ownership of the Esterházy family in 1626
This engraving shows the town and castle from the south, illustrating its layout during this period.
The Civitates Orbis Terrarum, also known as the 'Braun & Hogenberg', is a six-volume town atlas of town views and plans comprising of 363 engravings, sometimes hand coloured. It was one of the best-selling works in the last quarter of the 16th century. Georg Braun, a skilled writer, wrote the text accompanying the plans and views on the verso. Many plates were engraved after the original drawings of a professional artist, Joris Hoefnagel (1542-1600). The first volume was published in Latin in 1572 and the sixth in 1617. Other cartographers also contributed and translations appeared in German and French, making the atlas accessible to a broader audience.
Since its original publication of volume 1 in 1572, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography.
Georg Braun, the author of the text accompanying the plans and views in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, was born in Cologne in 1541. After his studies in Cologne, he entered the Jesuit Order as a novice, indicating his commitment to learning and intellectual pursuits. In 1561, he obtained his bachelor's degree; in 1562, he received his Magister Artium, further demonstrating his academic achievements. Although he left the Jesuit Order, he continued his studies in theology, gaining a licentiate in theology. His theological background likely influenced the content and tone of the text in the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, adding a unique perspective to the work.
Frans Hogenberg was a Flemish and German painter, engraver, and mapmaker. He was born in Mechelen as the son of Nicolaas Hogenberg.
By the end of the 1560s, Frans Hogenberg was employed upon Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, published in 1570; he is named an engraver of numerous maps. In 1568, he was banned from Antwerp by the Duke of Alva and travelled to London, where he stayed a few years before emigrating to Cologne. He immediately embarked on his two most important works, the Civitates, published in 1572 and the Geschichtsblätter, which appeared in several series from 1569 until about 1587.
