Veduta of Bautzen

A copper-engraved veduta of the German town of Bautzen by Johann Georg Mentzel from 1714, which belongs to the pictorial appendix of the "Lausitzische Merckwürdigkeiten" by historian and educator Samuel Großer. His work focuses on the sites in Lusatia, a historical territory that is now part of Germany, and Bautzen is one of the most important and picturesque Lusatian towns. In the 11th century, German, Polish and Czech rulers fought over it, and in 1158 Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa granted it to the Principality of Bohemia. In the 14th century, the Luxemburgs were the lords of Bautzen. The Czech King John of Luxembourg granted the town privileges relating to trade, which were later confirmed by his son, the Czech King and Roman Emperor Charles IV. In the second half of the 15th century Bautzen belonged to the King of Hungary, which is still commemorated by a relief depicting Matthias Corvinus on the gate of Ortenburg Castle.