This striking and rare engraving depicts the Battle of Khotyn (or Battle of Chocim), an important battle in the Polish-Ottoman War (1672-76) that took place on November 10 and 11, 1673. Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Hetman John Sobieski led 30,000 men to victory against 35,000 Ottoman forces. The following year, Sobieski won the royal election and became the king of Poland. Based on a drawing by Francesco Gratta the Younger that was later engraved by Romain de Hooghe, this engraving presents a stunning view of the carnage of a battle with an estimated 22,000 casualties. Violence spreads across the landscape with fighting spilling into the Dniester, which runs through the middle of the view. A key in the top left and right corners with French text provides the explanation of what is happening in all the chaos. Across the top of the map, there is a martial-themed decoration with a Latin motto: VICIT VIM VIRTUS, IN VIA VIRTUTI NULLA EST VIA.

References: cf. Phillips (A) #3485 v.44-14.

Condition: A

A dark impression issued folding with a hint of toning along one fold and a few rust spots. There is a binding trim at lower right.