Holy Roman Empire, Archbishopric Salzburg, Wolf Dietrich of Raitenau, Double Ducat 1592

Throughout the 16th century, Austria had to resist Ottoman thrusts again and again. In 1592 the so-called Long War began between Austrian and the Turks; it lasted until 1606. During those years Salzburg was reigned by the Archbishop Wolf Dietrich of Raitenau (1587-1653). At the outbreak of the war he offered to support Emperor Rudolf II in the battle against the Ottomans. Salzburg sent a contingent of troops that was to fight side by side with the imperial Hapsburg troops. However, the expedition ceased after only seven months. Regardless of the requests of the royal council of war, Archbishop of Raitenau withdrew his troops. When they returned from the battlefield in 1593, officers and soldiers received a bonus of 3 to 5 ducats depending on their rank, beside their usual pay. The whole military campaign cost the archbishop the considerable sum of approximately 70,000 ducats.