1639 Merian Plan of the 1637 Siege of Leipzig

This is Matthäus Merian's superbly detailed 1639 plan of the city of Leipzig, under siege by the Swedish army during the Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648). The plan captures the walled and moated city and its suburbs in the midst of battle. Whole neighborhoods are in flames with Swedish positions around the city revealed, presenting the most desperate point of the siege: the Swedes had blown a huge breach at the Grimma Gate, and were on the verge of taking the town.

A Closer Look

The walled city and its suburbs are vividly portrayed. Thirty-seven key structures - primarily churches and forts, but also troop movements and even the Swedish general himself - are letter-and-number-keyed to a legend at the bottom of the view.

1637 Siege of Leipzig

Swedish forces, led by their famous general Johan Banér, were not actually in a strong position. Their supply lines had been cut, and they had been ranging around Saxony relying on forage. Attacking the capital of Saxony was a desperate move, and despite the apparent near success of the gambit, news arrived that a fresh Imperial army was close to encircling the Swedes. No sooner had the city walls been breached, that the Swedes had to pick up their wounded and withdraw.

Thirty Years' War

The Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648), was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history, resulting in significant political, religious, and social upheaval. Originating as a religious feud between Catholic and Protestant states within the Holy Roman Empire, the conflict quickly expanded, drawing in most of the major European powers of the time. While the war began primarily as a religious dispute, its motives evolved over the years, driven by dynastic ambitions, territorial gains, and political supremacy. The war devastated much of Central Europe, especially the German-speaking territories, with vast civilian casualties and economic disruption. The Peace of Westphalia, which concluded the war in 1648, led to significant shifts in territorial boundaries and set the precedent for state sovereignty in international relations.

Publication History and Census

This view was created by Matthaus Merian and appeared in his 1639 Theatrum Europaeum. We see four examples of the plan listed in OCLC; the Theatrum is well represented in institutional collections.