Croatia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

Croatia is a part of Illyricum towards Hungarie, which wee descri∣bed in the beginng. Rufus and Volaterranus call it Valeria: others Liburnia. It joyneth to Istria on the East by the Fanatick Bay, and is situate betweene the Rivers Cuspa and Savus, and the higher Maesia. The Metropolis of this Country is now called Bigihon, and sometime Fumlum. It hath many other Citties at Zeng, Wackat, Turnaw, Modrish. But the Turk by his invasions made this Country knowne, having broken the league with the Christians, had a great desire to joyne this Country to his Kingdomes and Provinces, that so he might more conveniently invade Italy and Germanie, whereupon at the beginning of Summer in the yeare 1592. the great Turke sent an Army into Cro∣atia, under the conduct of his Bashawes and Captaines. The Souldiers being terrified at the approaching of this army, the Bashaw of Bosnia tooke the stronge Fort Hrastovitza by treachery. And afterward the fury of his Souldiers being not appeas'd therewith, hee laid siege to Wyhitz, a strong walled Citty: the Souldiers having neither munition nor victualls, yeelded up the Towne by surrender, and the Turke af∣terward contrary to his promise put them all to the Sword, and many inconveniences follow'd after this surrender, which I omit. Moreo∣ver in the yeare following, which was 1593. The Turke glorying in his many victories, and Townes which hee had taken, had a great de∣sire to get the strong Citty Sissegkum: and so raysing an army hee be∣sieged it. But the Germanes considering what great detriment and losse, not onely Germanie but all Europe should sustaine, if the Turkes should take it, they levied an army, and so passing over the River Sa∣vus, they intended to relieve the Citty. The Turkish horse-men who were 8000. or some say 10000. made haste to possesse themselves of the other Banck of the River Savus by the Bridge which was built before, that so they might hinder the Christians approach, where joyning battell with the Christians, the Turkes were put to flight, and fled to the Bridge, which the Carolostadien Souldiers had first possessed. The Turkes were at last all cut off, and a great many drown'd in the Ri∣vers Savus and Kulpa. The other part of the Turkish Army fled, the Bridge being cut downe, so that they could not retire to the rest of their army. And so on the 22. of Iune in the yeare 1593. this Citty was freed from this straite siege.