Seite - 329 - in Die Repräsentation der Habsburg-Lothringischen Dynastie in Musik, visuellen Medien und Architektur - 1618–1918

Representation of the Habsburgs in Croatian Historical Lands 329 NIAE / CONSECRAVIT / OCTAVIO LIBER BARONE TERZI CAPETANEO / IO BAPT ZANCHI & IO PETRO BON IVD 1695”) and the inscriptions on the architrave – under the bust of Leopold I (“CVLTVI LEOPOLDI PRIMI RO- MANORVM IMPERATORIS / FLVMINENSIS COMVNITAS EXISTENTE / CAPITANEO CIVITATIS DOMINO FERDINANDO / LIBERO BARONE DE RVVERE IVDICIBVS DOMINO ANTONIO / ZANCHI ET DOMINO MARTINO DIMINICH / POSVIT ANNO 1654”) and under the bust of Charles VI (“HONORI ET GLORIAE CAROLI VI ROMANORVM IMPERATORIS / ET III HISPANIARVM REGIS HVC ADVENIENTIS / FLVMINENSIS COM- MVNITAS DOMINO ADELMO ANTONIO / S. R. I. COMITE PAETAZ S. C. M. CVBICVLARIO / PRAEFECTO REGENTE IVDICIBVS DOMINO ANTONIO BON / ET DOMINO ANTONIO SPINGAROLI RESTAVRANS / ET PERFICIENS REPOSVIT ANNO 1728”) – testify to the complex history of this monument. The composition was assembled after the great earthquake of 1750, when Empress Maria Theresa approved and financed a new urban project on 3 November 1753 – the construction of Rijeka’s Civitas Nova.1 Without any doubt, this monument clearly exemplifies that visual representation of monarchs is not just about presence and memory, or about citizen loyalty and gratitude, but also functions as a statement of territorial domination imposed with the ultimate aim of maintain- ing maritime trade routes and exploiting natural resources in the Kvarner region. Nevertheless, two political acts issued at different times have been of crucial im- portance for the story of the monument. Among the numerous decrees brought by the Habsburg rulers, two have been of considerable importance for the city of Rijeka – the charter issued by Leopold I granting the coat of arms to the city, and the charter written by Charles VI in 1719 proclaiming Rijeka a free port. Emperor Leopold I approved the coat of arms proposed by the municipal council of Rijeka on 6 June 1659. The charter written in Latin describes it in detail: “The symbol is an oval shield, with a red field in which one can see the two-hea- ded Imperial Eagle, its wings spread on both sides and its beaks wide open, its tongues red and stretched out; above it, there is the golden Imperial Crown. It is of a celestial blue colour, with ribbons on both sides curving backwards, decorated with golden tassels. The eagle is turned to the left, its right foot res- ting on a heap of stones, its left foot touching a dark, elongated jar lying on the stones, its opening facing the left side of the coat of arms; and there is a river flowing abundantly from it, towards the left; and a ribbon is curving across the shield, with both ends turned backwards, saying: INEXHAUSTIBLE (INDE- FICIENTER)”.