The Plans of the Kamieniec Podolski Fortress Until 1793

Abstract

From the 15th to the 18th century Kamieniec Podolski was one of the most important fortresses, not only of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (it constituted a key location for the defense of its southern border) but also of entire Central Europe. The fortress repelled the invaders' attacks many times. Its international fame increased in the period of fights between the Holy League, and the Ottoman Empire. Holy League was composed of the Holy Roman Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Venice and Russia after the battle of Vienna in 1863 r. This is confirmed by the printed publishing of twenty-four different plans of this fortress and twelve different figures in the second half of the 17th century and in the first half of the 18th century. The collection of manuscript plans is equally extensive. Until 1793, i.e. until the fortress was taken over by the Russian Empire, at least 46 of them were created. The majority of the preserved cartographic monuments come from the 18th century and are kept not only in Polish libraries and archives, but also in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Dresden, Berlin, Vienna, Paris and even the distant London and Madrid. The present article presents the state of current knowledge regarding the cartography of the Kamieniec Podolski fortress.