Ordenliche beschreibung des Gwaltigen Treffenlichen und herrlichen Thurniers zu Roß und Fuß, [et]c. So am Sontag ...

Ordenliche beschreibung des Gwaltigen Treffenlichen und herrlichen Thurniers zu Roß und Fuß, [et]c. So am Sontag Oculi, Anno 70. und dieselb nachgehende wochen, zu Prag in der Alten Statt, den der Enden anwesenden Chur und Fürsten zu Ehren gehalten worden ist.
Augsburg. Hans Zimmerman. 1570 40 p . Hardcover, size 13.5 x 17.7 cm. The loss of the spine, traces of moisture, the last pages with a tear on the spine, age-related contamination, a trace of the seal and inscriptions on the title. A museum-level rarity.

The theatrical action on February 26, 1570 was part of a series of tournaments, the reason for which was the betrothal of Archduchess Anna, daughter of Maximilian II, to Philip II of Spain. The Augsburg edition of 1570 is dedicated to these tournaments, "An accurate description of the huge collection and magnificent tournaments, on foot, equestrian and others, held on the third Sunday of Lent in the year [15]70 and the following week in Prague in the Old City, held in honor of the electors and princes present."

The mention of a "huge gathering" in the title is quite remarkable – the Habsburgs always sought to gather all their vassals on the occasion of the festivities, thereby trying to symbolically unite the multinational empire and neutralize numerous contradictions, replacing them with external manifestations of harmony and unity. 

The author of the brochure is not specified, but it follows from its introductory part that it was written on behalf of the organizer of the holiday. This introductory part is an appeal or "plea" of the warlock Zirfeo to the emperor, in which he praises the art of necromancy and offers, through his skills, to serve His Majesty in organizing ringrennen and other competitions, reviving the centuries-old chivalric tradition, for which he promises that among

the participants of the tournament will be King Arthur and the knights of the round table. Thus, the organizer of the tournaments is a fictional character – the magician Zirfeo, which from the very beginning gives the competitions a theatrical character and distinguishes ringrennen among them as the main event of the event cycle. It is also important that under this mask is hidden Duseppe Arcimboldo, the real organizer of the holiday.

The description of the ringrennen in the Augsburg brochure is devoted to the section "A brief listing of the participants of the Ringrennen, held in Prague in the Old Town in the circle on February 26 in the year 1570". Despite the title suggesting a list of participants, the section contains a detailed description of a theatrical action that combined pantomime, fragments of a dramatic production, a procession and a costumed tournament.

The text of the brochure, despite some of its confusion and lack of clarity of details, paints the Prague costume tournament as a lively, dynamic and exciting spectacle. Comedy-dramatic inserts with wizards, knights, furies and other characters, an endless cycle of participants in a variety of bright and expressive costumes, the appearance of animals, the transition from one genre to another turned it into

a real phantasmagoria.

The theatrical tournament, held in Prague on February 26, 1570, is a typical example of a Renaissance holiday. Taking place in the space of the city, it was intended to present power, demonstrate its dynastic superiority and become another brick in the construction of the building of collective identification. However, in the development of Arcimboldo, whose work already belongs to mannerism, the solemn and ceremonial character inherent in Renaissance holidays acquires entertaining and frankly mystifying features, grotesque and bizarre storylines arise

and the characters, fancy costumes, thus connecting the features in this event

both styles.