„Ta forteca iest tarczą wolności Gdańszczanów”. Twierdza Wisłoujście w wybranych relacjach z XVII w.

Abstrakt

Wisłoujście Fortress (Mouth of Vistula Fortress) had played a significant role in the past, as a lighthouse, and guardhouse to the most important economic centre of 1st Republic of Poland (1569–1795). The garrison in the fortress was responsible for the control of ship movement in the water canal of port of Gdańsk. Furthermore, the military construction of the lighthouse was treated as a part of city’s fortification system, and Wisłoujście was a key object to defend the line of the coast from possible threat.

The Mouth of Vistula Fortress had kept its official functions – to present the might of the city, as well as the Commonwealth. Visitations in the “guardian of the Republic’s sea coast” were a part of journeys of the nobles. The possibility of seeing “great watchtower, on which is presented the lighthouse with high quality glass covering the fire burning from four great goblets or lights, which are showing the sailors their way”, “number of canals and moats, many walls developed from the most modern military architecture art”, or “fulfilled with mouths of cannons” were astonishing memories for the guests. It referred to polish kings, nobles, and bishops as well as to ambassadors or nobles from foreign countries who were describing their memories in diaries and journals. Subject of the article was based on the diaries from 17th century which are treated by authors as the point of start for the analyze.