Spielberk

During Swedish siege was fortress Spielberk (later considered un­conquerable} in rather pitiable conditions. The commander of the fortress was lieutenant colonel of Scottish origin George Jacob Ogilvy (originally spelling was probably O'Gilvy), who had only about 40 armed men at his command. Ogilvy's feelings were somewhat hurt by appointing of a French­man, who was three years younger, as the main military leader of Brno's defence, nevertheless their military cooperation was exemplary. Raduit de Souches had the walls of the castle as well as of the city repaired and ordered to dig deep ditches around them. He also ordered to supply Spielberk and the city with food, with fodder for horses and cattle, and also with weapons.

The fortress or castle Spielberk was one of the strategic points, which were under heavy attacks during the whole siege- especially the new bas­tion, remains of which you can see today near the small lake on the south­west side of the fortress.

The general attack on 15 August 1645 was led simultaneously on the castle Itself and also on the covered road leading to fortress. Qgilvy's mus­keteers nevertheless defended themselves and significantly contributed to successful defence of Brno.

Permanent exhibition "Bmo in Spielberk" is dedicated to the topic of Brno's siege. You can see pictures of protagonists, weapons, model of that time Brno and other interesting displays in two rooms. Today you can find the coats of arms (both Raduit de Souches and Ogilvy), including promoted coat of arms of Brno (with Habsburg dynasty insignia), in the big courtyard of Spielberk.

Silinger Square

One of the five town gates existed near today's Silinger Square since medieval times-so called Brno's gate-leading aut of the city towards Old Brno and Vienna. Commander Raduit de Sotiches had the covered corridor (I:strada cooperta") between castle and town build right from this spot.

The fortress Spielberk suffered in hot summer days from shortage of water, and the covered corridor served for water supplying (water was trans­ported by means of wagons). Through this very spot came the first promised help to Brno-on 26 July lieutenant colonel count Stepan of Vrbno with his 300 cavalrymen made their way into the town here. They brought even so needed gunpowder that day with them. On 15 August the attack of Swedes towards Spielberk was deflected here by soldiers led by lieutenant Piimayer.

The Brno's citizens were ready to defend their town at any price, they would prefer to die rather than to surrender. Lennart Torstenson claimed, that he wanted Brno also at any price and that "the mouse hole" will fall in his hands within three days and Spielberk within one week. All attempts for negotiations proposed by Swedes were unequivocally rejected, Brno's citi­zens refused to surrender. The commander of the city one day even ordered to blow the trumpets on the city walls and to raise the flags and targets on the towers, allegedly to ..help the Swedes to aim better".

And one legend says that in Spielberk crew were really excellent gun­men: Sad-tempered general Torstenson was sitting one day in front of his tent and was just about to drink wine from large tankard. That moment flew a cannon ball from Spielberk and knock out the tankard from his hand. That must have been really masterful shot. It is said that scared Torstenson then ordered smaller cup of wine, so that the gunman would have ..smaller target".

Petrov

The military headquarters of Brno was in 1645 in today's Bishop's residence opposite to cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. It was the seat of commander Raduit de Souches, who personally organized the defence of the town during the general attack from here. The church was already damaged during short Swedish siege in September 1643 (the building lost its tower), and Swedish attacks two years later damaged it much more. Iwo current typical towers of Petrov were built only in the beginning of 20-th century.

The house no, 8 boasts promoted family coat of arms of Raduit de Sou­ches and the house no. 6 has on its facade baroque plaque from the year 1650 as a tribute to his brilliant commanding.

On 15 August 1645 Swedes started their attack here at five a.m., after one hour break they launched another try at five p.m., as well as on other five points of Brno's city wails. The fights continued to late evening hours. This fact contradicts popular legend about Brno's noon.

This legend has it that Torstenson called a meeting of his officers to the pub Blue Lion in Old Brno. He decided there that if the town is not in Swedish hands on 15 August before the bells ring the noon, he would withdraw with his army. The innkeeper overheard that plan, at night crept into the town, and revealed Swedish plans to the defenders. On the day of final attack, in the moment when the Swedes almost managed to break the city walls, the old bell ringer was ordered to climb the tower of Petrov and ring the noon one hour earlier. Torstenson thought it is really noon, and commanded to withdraw away from Brno. Since then, as a tradition, the bells of Petrov ring noon at eleven o'clock.

Former Jewish Gate

The area in front of former Jewish Gate was very frequented point of Swedish attacks-today you can see the model of the gate on the corner of Nadrazni Street and Masaryk Street, The real fragments of this gate are displayed in the museum in Spielberk castle. The most decorated town's gate used to stand in front of today's main railway station.

Raduit de Souches cleverly ordered to burn down and level with terrain all the buildings, trees etc. to the distance of 600 steps from the city walls-to make hiding of the enemy impossible and deprive the Swedes of this advantage.

he second reinforcement helping the tired defenders came through this area at night on 8 August-thanks to general Gallas-the troop of 250 dragoons under command of lieutenants Hennemann and Unger. They brought also very needed sulphur for manufacturing of the gunpowder.

Raduit de Souches fought here personally on 15 August, the day of final attack; the area was defended by burghers under command of Maxmi- lian of Hof. Rakoczi's troops managed to reach even the space right under the fortifications, but by means of grenades also this area was successfully defended. The usage of hand grenades started to be common just during the Thirty Years' War. That time grenades were simple small iron or glass balls with gunpowder filling. It was effective and dangerous weapon-but for both sides!

One curious legend has it that Raduit de Souches was very proud of his hair- and during one of the counter-attacks the cannon bail scorched a wisp of his hair right here.

Freedom Square

Schwanz's house, incorrectly called House of Lords of Lipa, stands un­til these days in the Freedom Square. This house served after the success­ful defence of the city as a residence of commander Raduit de Souches. He bought it in 1649 for 6000 gold coins-even a garden outside the city walls belonged to this house. One of his sons-Charles Luis [also successful commander) lived here later, both lines ot the family died out, but distant relatives are probahly still living in southern Italy.

Raduit de Souches was bom on 15 August 1608 in one Huguenot family in La Rochelle, western France. When he was twenty years old, he joined the Protestant Swedish army (in Germany). He ascended in ranks and became famous also for his bravery. Because of conflicts with his superiors he later left the army of Christina, Queen of Sweden, and in 1642 he entered the service of Emperor Ferdinand III, where his star was shining again. That's why the Emperor appointed him on 14 March as a commander-in-chief of the city of Brno.

The city ol Brno was and still is proud and steadfast city. Modern chronometer made of black granite in the eastern part of the square (near to the ground plan of former church of St. Nikolas) reminds this fact. The clock refers to a legend, which says that general Torstenson could be killed only by means of a magical glass bullet. So every day at 11 a.m. a glass bullet (with Brno'scoat of arms) falls out from this chrono­meter in the shape of a cartridge or missile, and one happy ..catcher" can boast with a highly-valued souvenir. The clock was ceremonially introduced in September 2010.

Schrattenbach Palace

Today this palace in Koblizna Street houses a public institution - Jan Mahen Library. In medieval times there used to be three houses here, one of them bought, after successful defence of Brno, the commander of Spielberk fortress George Jacob Ogilvy (1605-1661]. Ogiivy was a member of one old Scottish noble family. He tost one hand in a battle, thus his nickname "0ne-armed." Ogilvy bought the house in I6b3 for 2000 gold coins and lived there with his wife and seven children.

When he died in 1661, he was buried-according to his last will-in a tomb of monastery church in Rajhrad This man stands rather in the shade of his superior-commander Raduit de Souches, which is not quite fair. Both of these men were of quarrelsome nature, moreover Ogilvy felt aggrieved by de Souches appointment to the post of commander-in-chief, but as military professionals" they cooperated exemptarily and formed one of the piiiars for successful defence of the city

The Swedes never reached these premises within the city walls. But the citizens-defenders started to feel tired and exhausted. There was a shortage of food, ammunition and fodder for horses and cattle. In the end of June the count of Vrbno cavalrymen arrived, so the number of horses even increased. About 400 horses were later saved by a secret escape to Pernstejn.

On the other hand, because of hunger and starvation, people started to consume horse meat. But no one of butchers in Brno wanted to slaugh­ter the horses, such act was considered as dishonourable that time. So de Souches ordered to two military butchers to slaughter the horses, and at the same time he issued a certificate of honour and honesty for them.

Jesuit Church

The Jesuit Church was built in 1578, that time incorporated also the Jesuit College. During the siege the Jesuit priest and teacher Martin Streda -known also as Stredonius (1587-1649)-was a rector of this college. He is considered to play a ro!e of spiritual and moral pillar of the city.

Martin Streda was barn in Gliwice, Silesia. This holy man, as he was called later, organized students of the college and encouraged citizens of Brno as well as commander de Souches, supplying moral support to them. He was said to plead the victory for Brno's defenders by means of prayers and penitent deeds. The city council even testified this in written form in 1671. After his death there was an effort to beatify hinrt-and this issue is still under discussion. His mummified body lies in the church crypt in the glass coffin.

The Jesuit Church was heavily damaged, together with other buil­dings, on 25 July 1645 That day the city was bombarded by heavy cannons brought by Zikmund Rakoczi - son of the Duke of Transylvania. The nick­names of those guns were Cat and Mouse. Such heavy cannons were usu­ally transported dismantled.

The Jesuit College was another strategic point which was on 15 August under heavy Swedish attack from five a.m., together with above mentioned Petrov. But both this morning attack and subsequent afternoon attack at 5 p.m. were repulsed by students and burghers encouraged by priest Martin Streda. It is said that the very last Swedish cannon ball shot towards the college stopped right in front of Martin Streda - and this moment was the end of the siege of Brno.

St. James's Church

Raduit de Souches died at his castle in Jevisovice on 12 August 1682. According to his last will, his body was ceremonially transported to Brno and buried alongside his first wife in St. James's Church. Decorated copper coffin with his body remains lies in the crypt-which is not open to the public. The entrance to the crypt is covered by a marble slab inserted in the church floor.

The bronze kneeling statue of Raduit de Souches behind the altar is placed on the coffin made of dark grey marble. There is a whitish marble plaque on the front side of the coffin, with the text in Old German, descri­bing the life, heroic deeds and military success of this colonel, who was after Brno's defence promoted into the rank of field marshal for the whole Moravia.

On the occasion of anniversary of defending against Swedish siege a wreath laying ceremony takes place here, similarly like at Martin Streda's coffin in Jesuit Church. Quite worthily-in his days he was called "the Grea­test Brno Citizen" and successful delence of the city in 1645 was not the end of his military career.

There is an entrance into Ossuary right next to St. James's Church. Here you can see skeleton remains of plague and cholera epidemics victims, as well as remains of the dead from Thirty Years' War and Swedish siege. These forgotten premises were discovered in 2001, during archaelogical re­search before St. James's Square reconstruction. Renovated Ossuary was then open to the public in 2012. Just after catacombs in Paris this is said to be the second largest ossuary in the whole Europe. It is open all year round.

The Fight is Over  

In the year 1645 the enemy did not manage to conquer the city walls of Brno and the city was the only capital which defended itself. The death toll was: 250 killed men on defenders' side and 8000 killed Swedish soldiers. Brno was heavily damaged by bombardment and fires, villages in vicinity were burnt down and depopulated. But by defending of Brno, the Habsburg capital Vienna was saved-and the emperor Ferdinand III appreciated this fact. The city of Brio, its inhabitants as well as main protagonists were rewarded, besides other things with new coat of arms for the city.

Raduit de Souches was promoted to the rank of general and rewarded with 30000 gold coins. His career was on the rise: three years later he was appointed a field marshal and commander-in-chief of Moravia and Silesia, in 1650 he gained all the rights of local nobility. George Jacob Ogilvy was promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed "life commander of Spiel­berk". The Jesuit priest Martin Stfeda was appointed a Provincial Superior of the order, but he died in 1649. On 3 February 1646 the emperor issued so called ..Swedish privilege", the city of Brno was rewarded with 30000 gold coins from land taxes and freed from all financial obligations and accommo­dation duties for 5 years.

The victory over the Swedes in Brno influenced even the negotiations concerning the Peace of Westphalia in favour of the Habsburg Monarchy. This victory was an unprecedented deed-and the name Brno was soon famous all around the Europe. The reputation of ..invincible" Swedish army and its commander-in-chief was gone. The courage, bravery, and concordance of Brno's citizens, regardless their age, social or national differences-in such a great scale-were that time quite unique and fascinates us even today.

Historical landmarks of the year 1645 

6.3. • Army of Ferdinand 111 was crushed in the battle of Jankov, Swedish army gave their attention to Vienna and Brno

14.3. • Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches appointed commander-in-chief of Brno

15.3. • Raduit de Souches arrived to Brno and started preparation for the defence of the city

3. 5. • Lennart Torstenson's troops arrived to Brno, they pitched camps in Old Brno, Zabrdovice and Kralovo Pole

15. 5. • Spielberk commander Ogilvv subordinated to de Souches

4. 6. * The clay of big Swedish disaster-because of heavy storm- the Swedish ditches were flooded with water

26. 6. • The defenders supported by 300 men of Stepan of Vrbno

19. 7. • Swedes reinforced by 10 000 men of Zikmund Rakoczi

25. 7. • City was damaged by Rakoczi's cannons bombardment (the two biggest cannons were nicknamed Cat and Mouse)

8, 8. * Dragoons led by lieutenants Hennemann and Unger broke into the city, they brought sulphur for manufacturing of the gunpowder

15.8, • At 5 a.m. started the final attack, performed on six spots

20.8. • Swedish infantry withdrew from ditches to camps in Zabrdovice and Komarov

23.8. • Swedish army marched towards Zidlochovice