CZECHOWICZ, Boguslaw. An imperial sigh with oriental notes? Ortenburg Castle in Bautzen (Upper Lusatia) during the reign of Kings Matthias Corvinus, Vladislaus II and Louis Jagiellon (about 1483-1526). Architectus. 2024, vol. 77, No 1, p. 64-72. ISSN 1429-7507. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.37190/arc240108.
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Original name An imperial sigh with oriental notes? Ortenburg Castle in Bautzen (Upper Lusatia) during the reign of Kings Matthias Corvinus, Vladislaus II and Louis Jagiellon (about 1483-1526)
Authors CZECHOWICZ, Boguslaw (616 Poland, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
Edition Architectus, 2024, 1429-7507.
Other information
Original language English
Type of outcome Article in a journal
Field of Study 60401 Arts, Art history
Country of publisher Poland
Confidentiality degree is not subject to a state or trade secret
WWW https://architectus.pwr.edu.pl/issues/77/
Organization unit Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.37190/arc240108
Keywords in English Bautzen; Mathias Corvinus; castellology; representation of power; biblicisms
Changed by Changed by: prof. PhDr. Boguslaw Czechowicz, Dr., učo 54877. Changed: 25/6/2024 21:59.
Abstract
The castle in Bautzen was built on the site of an older residence in 1483-1490. Its best-preserved element from those years is the gate tower housing the chapel of St. George on the first floor. The facade of the tower turns towards the city with the collegiate church with a spectacular monument to King Matthias from 1486, shown not only as the ruler of Bohemia and Hungary, but also as an aspirant to the imperial throne. Emphasizing the majesty of the ruler was directed primarily to the Bautzen chapter, which included clergy associated with the Meissen bishopric, whose center - Meissen, was closely associated with the Wettins. Matthias consistently limited their territorial ambitions in the territory of the Bohemian Crown. The creation of such a unique monument to the ruler in public space, which in Central Europe has only precedents from the monument of Emperor Frederick III in Wiener Neustadt and George in Prague, could also have been related to the desire to demonstrate Matthias's rights as the Bohemian king to the then practically lost fief of the Bohemian Crown - Luxembourg. The last representative of this dynasty, Elizabeth of Goerlitz, daughter of John of Goerlitz, handed them over to the dukes of Burgundy, but after the death of the last of them's daughter, Maria, in 1482, these rights were taken over by the Habsburgs, who were then in sharp conflict with Matthias. Ortenburg glorified Matthias not only as a potential emperor, but also as a new David or Solomon. The castle tower was probably crowned with a turret known from the so-called Tower of David in Jerusalem. The architectural detail in the chapel also seems to be a discreet reference to oriental architecture. In the years 1520-1527, the top of the tower was changed and an attic with six pinnacle turrets was added. This number most likely referred to the Union of Six Cities, to which Bautzen belonged. The local mayor of Upper Lusatia was then Prince Charles of Minstererg, who was expanding his castle in Ząbkowice Śląskie at that time. Its facades were also topped with an attic. In this castle, like many others from that time, references to Jerusalem, Solomonic architecture were also found.
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