On the Frontiers of the Balkans: L. F. Marsigli and the Roman Heritage (1683–1701)

Institute for Balkan Studie SASA has recently published a book of Vladimir V. Mihajlović – On the Frontiers of the Balkans: L. F. Marsigli and the Roman Heritage (1683–1701).

Life of L. F. Marsigli, a soldier, diplomat, virtuoso, is inextricably connected to the Middle Danube Basin. As a member of the Austrian army in the Great Turkish War (1683–1699) and as the Habsburg frontier commissioner after the Peace of Karlowitz, Marsigli literally participated in the making of frontiers of the Balkans. At the same time, lead by his own interests and supported by the imperial army, Marsigli started a comprehensive scientific study of the Balkan/Danubian lands, crowned by his monumental monograph – Danubius Pannonico–Mysicus. Second (of six) volume of Marsigli’s Danubius is dedicated to the Roman heritage, furthermore it is the first modern collection of Roman material culture found along the shores of, in Marsigli’s words, Pannonia and Moesia. Since the second half of 19^th century, this antiquarian volume of Danubius has been the first instance for numerous explorers of the Balkan past. Mihajlović’s book On the frontiers of the Balkans, therefore, tells a story about “double receptions” – Marsigli’s reception of the Roman heritage of the Balkans, as well as reception of Marsigli’s work in Serbian archaeology.