Mariensäule (Marian Column)

The Marian Column, also referred to as the Turkish Column, is part of an ensemble that includes the fountain located at the Iron Gate. It is located at the southern end of Herrengasse. The votive column, which was completed in 1670, represents the fulfillment of a vow made on August 1, 1664, during the Turkish Wars. This vow was made in gratitude for the victory achieved in the Battle of Mogersdorf, led by Count Raimondo Montecuccoli. The design of the column dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary is credited to Domenico Scissasa. The stone carvings were done by Abbondia Bolla, and the casting of the column shaft was carried out by Adam Roßtauscher. The individual responsible for the work on the copper statue was Arnold Schandernell from Augsburg.

The Mariensäule was initially built on Karmeliterplatz. However, it was later moved to Jakominiplatz in 1796, thanks to the efforts of Kaspar Andreas von Jacomini. Unfortunately, the monument was eventually taken down in 1927. The site is situated in the vicinity of the current tram lines 1, 3, 6, and 7. The column, which was designed by Tassilo Hüller, the same architect who created the fountain at the Iron Gate, was erected in its current location in 1928.

The column is supported by a square base constructed from Salzburg marble, which sits atop a stepped pedestal. Above it, there are four cartouches with inscriptions. The Corinthian bronze column supports the gilded figure of Maria Immaculata. This figure was modeled after the Marian column Am Hof, which was erected in Vienna in 1646.

The Marian or Turkish column located at the Iron Gate is a highly prominent monument in the public space of Graz city. The monument commemorates the events of 1663/64, specifically the triumph of the imperial troops in the Battle of Szentgotthárd/Mogersdorf/Monošter on August 1, 1664. Despite the unfavorable peace treaty of Vasvár/Eisenburg on August 10, 1664, which was not in favor of the Habsburgs, Emperor Leopold I’s propaganda celebrated this battle as a significant victory for the Christian West.

The Marian column, along with the image of the plague of God, serves as another example of how the Habsburg rulers, with the backing of the Catholic Church, shaped the formation of memory. In 1663, in Graz, efforts were made to establish a new religious festival on December 8th. The purpose of this festival was to seek the protection of the Mother of God against a potential attack by the Ottomans. This information can be found in Maier’s 1928 publication (page 8) and Popelka’s 1959 publication (page 36). Emperor Leopold I proposed the idea of erecting a column based on the Viennese model as an alternative or addition to the existing annual devotion. This suggestion was eventually implemented. Consequently, the memory that was originally self-designed underwent a transformation under the control of the ruler. The collection of funds from the residents had commenced for the construction of the Marian column. However, ultimately, the emperor had to personally cover a significant portion of the expenses. The construction, which was overseen by the Vienna Court Chamber, took a total of seven years (Maier 1928: 11).

According to Schuller (2003: 143), the column shaft of the Marian column is believed to have been constructed using two cannons that were melted down. This similarity to the ‘Turkish bell’ can be observed in this aspect.

The Marian Column was erected on Carmelite Square in 1670. However, other potential locations, such as the main square, the square in front of the Jesuit University, or the bastion under the Dominican Church, were also taken into consideration.

In 1796, the Marian column was relocated from Jakomini at the behest of state councillor Andreas Edler. It was moved to the square that was subsequently named after him, Karmeliterplatz. The memory of the ‘Turks’ was updated during the laying of the foundation stone on Jakominiplatz on June 2, 1796. This was accomplished with the assistance of a foundation stone inscription. The foundation stone I am referring to was once responsible for supporting a Christian monument of gratitude. It was erected by Emperor Leopold I to commemorate the victory achieved by the brave military leader Montecuccoli at St. Gotthard on the river Rába, where they successfully repelled the advancing Turks. This event took place on July 22, 1664, according to the Christian calendar.

The ‘Turkish memory’ was also updated during the inauguration of the column on August 14, 1796, which coincided with the eve of the feast of the Virgin Mary.

The Marian Column gained significant public attention in 1927 when the city council made the decision to relocate it from Jakominiplatz to a different square. The “Verein Heimatschutz” played a significant role in this matter. They proposed to the city administration that the monument should be renamed the Turkish Column, in order to highlight its historical significance even more than before. The city council made the decision to name the column ‘Turkish Column’ on April 27, 1928.