Die Schlacht võ dem Kunig von Poln K-55
Author: König Von Polen Sigismund I., 1467 - 1548
Title: Die Schlacht võ dem Kunig von Poln. vñ mit dem Moscowiter gescheen am tag Marie gepurt. M.CCCCC.Xiiij.
Title in English: The Battle of the King of Poland with the Muscovite, Fought on the Day of Virgin Mary. 1514.
Published: Nürnberg, Jobst Gutknecht, 1514.
Format: Kl.-4to (202 x 150 mm). With a title woodcut. 3 pages.
Binding: limp vellum binding.
First edition. Exceedingly scarce contemporary German account on the battle of Orsha, finely illustrated with a large title woodcut.
The Battle of Orsha took place September 8, 1514, between the forces of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Kingdom of Poland, under the command of Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, and the army of Grand Duchy of Moscow under Konyushy, Ivan Chelyadnin and Kniaz (Prince) Mikhail Golitsa. The Battle of Orsha - one of the biggest battles of 16th-century Europe - was part of a long chain of the Russo-Lithuanian Wars conducted by Russian rulers striving to gather all the Old Ruthenian lands under their rule. Due to the spectacular proportions of the defeat, information about the Battle of Orsha was suppressed in Moscovite chronicles. King Sigismund I of Poland on the other hand sought to gain as much political advantage as possible from his victory. Emperor Maximilian I impressed by the scope of the Polish-Lithuanian victory started peace negotiations with the Jagiellons in Vienna in 1515.
The finely executed large woodcut was reused by the Nuremberg printer Jobst Gutknecht who started business in 1514, and until his death in 1542 over 350 titles left his press. There are 3 copies in public institutions (BSB Munich, HAB Wolfenbüttel and OeNB Vienna).
Reference: VD 16, S-2936; Weller, Repertorium, 851; Schottenloher, Flugblatt und Zeitung, ill. p. 159.
The Battle of the King of Poland with the Muscovite is one of the first descriptions of the Battle of Orsha. It was a short information publication for German readers, which came out soon after the battle. The battle took place on 8 September 1514, during the war between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Grand Duchy of Moscow (1512–1522). The united army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, led by the Grad Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, fought with the army of Moscow. This was one of the most important military victories for the Grand Duchy of Lithuania against Moscow, and one of the biggest battles in the history of 16th century Europe.
Reference: "The Collection of Lawyer Jaunius Gumbis: the Past Preserved in Books". Museum and Collector - 7. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2018, p. 39.
Published: "The Collection of Lawyer Jaunius Gumbis: the Past Preserved in Books". Museum and Collector - 7. Vilnius: National Museum of Lithuania, 2018, p. 38-39.
Exhibitions: "The Collection of Lawyer Jaunius Gumbis: the Past Preserved in Books", September 3, 2018 – October 21, 2018.
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