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Plague Column. Photo by Dennis Jarvis from Halifax, Canada.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Column of Pest (Column of The Trinity)

The Column of Pest or Column of the Trinity is a Holy Trinity column located in Vienna, Austria on Graben street which is a street in the inner city.

The Baroque memorial is one of the best-known and most prominent sculptural artworks in the city which was erected after the Great Plague epidemic in 1679.

The top 10 Interesting Facts about Column of Pest (Column of The Trinity) include the following.

1. The Column of Pest Was the Original Idea of the Habsburg Emperor Leopold I

Emperor Leopold I . Photo by Benjamin Block.

Vienna suffered one of the last great plague epidemics in 1679 which killed over 75,000 people.

The Habsburg emperor Leopold I vowed to construct a mercy column if the great plague epidemic would come to an end.

A provisional wooden column was inaugurated in the same year the emperor made the vow.

The column showed the Holy Trinity on a Corinthian column crafted together with nine sculpted angels and was made by Johann Frühwirth.

2. The Modern Column Incorporated Design Ideas from Various Sculptors

Matthias Rauchmiller Clay Model. Photo by Matthias Rauchmiller.

The Habsburg emperor Leopold I vowed to construct a more permanent column after returning to Vienna which he had left to escape the plague that was ravaging the city.

One of the sculptors who was commissioned to create a general design as well as some sculptures for the Column of the Plaque was Matthias Rauchmiller in 1683.

Even though Rauchmiller died in 1686, the modern monument still contains his basic conception and three of his angel figures.

Several new designs were done by other sculptors after him including the renowned architect and sculptor Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.

Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach is credited with designing the sculptures at the base of the modern column.

3. The Column of the Plague Was Inaugurated in 1694

Model Depicting Lodovico Burnacini. Photo by Attributed to Ignaz Bendl.

The project was finally assigned to Paul Strudel who based his work on theatre engineer Lodovico Burnacini’s concept.

Burnacini envisioned a kneeling emperor Leopold, praying to a sculpture of faith and a cloud pyramid with angel sculptures.

The column which was inaugurated in 1694 included the work of several other sculptors including Tobias Kracker and Johann Bendel.

4. The Monument Transitioned from A Conservative Memorial Column to A High Baroque Monument

The monument appears quite homogenous despite the high number of sculptors who were involved, the frequent amendments of the design, and the long period it took to construct it.

The monument changed from a conservative memorial column to a High Baroque scene, narrating a story in a theatrical form during the design period.

The monument is indicative of the era of High Baroque styles as it marked the transition from previous styles used in construction.

The whole Austrian region was highly influenced by the High Baroque style used to design and construct the column.

5. The Column’s Iconic Iconography Conveys the Message of Overcoming Sin and Calamity

The visuals and images engraved on the column represented a victory monument for Emperor Leopold I as the basic message carried by the iconography.

The basic message was that the piety and intercession of Emperor Leopold I defeated and averted the Ottomans’ Second Siege of Vienna in 1683 and ended the devastating plague.

Both the plague and the Ottomans’ Second Siege of Vienna in 1683 were viewed as being punishment for the sin of the Austrians

6. The Trinity Expresses Itself Several Times in The Iconography

The number three or multiples of three plays a strong role throughout the column which is primarily dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

The Trinity expresses itself several times in the number three in the iconography of the column.  

On the pedestal, reserved for mankind in the upper third, Emperor Leopold 1 is depicted as an intercessor praying to God which is the first stage.

An intermediate zone which is the second stage is a higher level that is occupied by angels. The highest level is reserved for the Holy Trinity and is the third stage.

The column also has three wings, nine large angels, three bronze scrolls, etc all in three or multiples of three.

7. A Sacral Program and The Three Parts of the Habsburg Monarchy Was Conceptualized in The Column’s Design

Plague Commons. Photo by Jebulon.

A connection between the sacral program and the three parts of the Habsburg monarchy was conceptualized in a tripartite division in the column’s plan.

The western face of the column is dedicated to the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as God the Father, and bears a double-headed eagle.

 The coats of arms of the Inner Austrian lands, the duchies of Styria, Carinthia, and Carniola are also associated with the western face of the column.

The coats of arms for the core countries of the monarchy are inscribed between the western and eastern wings.

The eastern face bears the coats of arms of the kingdoms of Hungary, Croatia, and Dalmatia, as well as Bosnia, and is associated with the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

The northern face is decorated with the coats of arms of the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Margraviate of Upper Lusatia and Lower Silesia, as well as the Duchy of Silesia and is dedicated to the Holy Spirit.

8. The Column Was Constructed to Commemorate Victims of the Great Plague

The Vienna Plague Column was erected to commemorate victims of the Great Plague in 1679 and is a Baroque-style column on Graben street in Vienna.

The column is one of Vienna’s most prominent monuments and sculpture ensembles.

The fame of the column is derived not only from the time it took to construct it but also because of its intricate design and artistic expression.

Vienna is said to have lost over 75,000 residents to the plague which is suspected to be the black death.

Emperor Leopold I, fled the city when the plague broke out to escape being infected and only returned when it ended.

The plague was so grim that bodies were burned outside the city instead of being buried in an effort to control it among other equally severe measures.

9. Columns of That Type Were Common in The Roman Era

Columns of that type were constructed as a gratitude to God and the Holy Trinity for overcoming a great plague or overcoming an invading force during the time.

Columns of this type were common during the Roman era. At the top of the pillar the Roman emperor would be represented for achieving an outstanding victory in war or overcoming a certain challenging situation.

Columns were used for religious purposes, to show thanks to God for his help or to commemorate a disaster and especially with the spread of Christianity.

10. Memorial Churches and Even Larger Columns Were Constructed to Mark the End of the Plague in Europe

Holy Trinity Column, Olomouc. Photo by Ben Meyer.

As the second wave of the 17th-century black death epidemic swept through Europe, survivors burned bodies and built monuments for their deliverance.

The plague memorial churches, like Santa Maria Della Salute in Venice, were built to celebrate the end of an epidemic on a grand scale.

Plague columns and statues that served as calls to faith and indirect memorials such as the Column of the plague in Vienna were constructed on a smaller scale across Europe.

The Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, Czech Republic was such a column so large that its base concealed a small chapel and was erected also to celebrate the end of the plague.