Publication details
1645 : Brno v obležení
| Title in English | 1645 : Brno Under Siege |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Holding an exhibition |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The exhibition 1645: Brno Under Siege commemorated the 380th anniversary of the city’s defence against the Swedish army during the Thirty Years’ War. From May to August 1645, Brno and Špilberk Fortress resisted the forces of Field Marshal Lennart Torstensson, who regarded the city as an obstacle on the route towards Vienna. Rather than presenting the siege solely as a sequence of military operations, the exhibition approached it through the personal stories of ten historical or historically inspired individuals. Alongside the commander Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches and the Jesuit Martin Středa, it introduced the experiences of townspeople, students, ordinary soldiers and women accompanying the army. The banner of Brno’s student company formed one of the principal exhibits. Historical objects, written sources and recorded voices conveyed everyday life in the besieged city, military service, trench construction, religious faith and the defenders’ determination. The exhibition also reconsidered traditional legends and highlighted the distinction between the historical events and their later interpretation. The successful defence was presented as an important component of Brno’s collective identity and historical memory, commemorated annually during the city’s Brno Day celebrations. |