The Governor of the Region
At that time, General Montecuccoli served as the governor of the whole border province. During the previous year, I had the opportunity to travel through these regions on my way to the mining towns, and thus I was able to observe the political and military conditions of the area at first hand. These lands were of great importance to the Empire, as they lay close to the frontier and were often affected by tension between the Christian powers and the Ottoman authorities Warlike Engines and Instruments of Defence.
The Emperor himself had grown weary of the constant arrival of Ottoman messengers, known as Chauses, and of the ordinary envoys who repeatedly came from the Vizier of Buda to Vienna. These envoys expected to receive gifts when they returned, which became both costly and troublesome.
New Rules for Foreign Envoys
Limiting Access to Vienna
To reduce this burden, the Emperor issued a firm order. From that time forward, no Ottoman envoy was allowed to proceed beyond the city of Raab unless he carried special permission. Instead of traveling all the way to Vienna, such messengers were required to stop at Raab, where they would receive their replies and official documents.
This policy not only reduced unnecessary expense but also limited the movement of foreign representatives within the heart of the Empire. Raab thus became an important point for diplomatic exchange as well as a strong military post.
The Town of Komárom
Names and Location
The town known as Kemra, Gomra, Crumenum, or Comaronium, now called Komárom, is a large and powerful fortress town. It stands at the eastern end of the island of Schütt, overlooking both the Danube and the River Waag. Because of its position, it was strongly fortified and well supplied with soldiers.
At the time of my visit, Colonel Hoffkircher was the governor of the town. The strongest part of the defenses was the Tortoise Fort, so named because its shape somewhat resembles a tortoise. This fortification was especially admired for its strength and careful design Private Guided Turkey Tours.
A Failed Ottoman Siege
The Attack by Sinan Pasha
After the fall of Raab, Sinan Pasha attempted to take Komárom. He came with sixty ships and a large force of Turks and Tartars, confident that the town would fall as others had done. However, the siege failed completely.
The defenders held firm, and the attackers suffered heavy losses, especially among the Tartars. The town remained secure, and the unsuccessful siege further strengthened its reputation as one of the strongest places on the frontier.
Ancient Tombs and Roman Inscriptions
Discoveries in the Inner Castle
Within the inner castle, I observed three ancient tombs that had been brought there from Sene or Senia, a place of great antiquity not far away. These tombs clearly belonged to an earlier age and were likely Roman in origin.
As I carefully copied the inscriptions carved upon them, several people in the castle noticed my work. They were very curious and asked many questions about the meaning and importance of the inscriptions. They requested that I leave written copies of the texts with them, which I willingly did.
They also asked me to promise that, if later study showed the inscriptions to be of historical importance, I would send them a full explanation. I gave them this assurance, recognizing the value of preserving knowledge of such ancient remains.
