Battle of Vienna
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire (now Vienna, Austria)
What happened
King John III Sobieski of Poland led a relief army of Polish and Holy Roman Empire troops, with Charles of Lorraine, while Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg defended Vienna against the Ottoman army of Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha. The Ottomans began the siege of Vienna on 14 July 1683. On 12 September the relief army charged down from the hills, led by Sobieski and his Polish Winged Hussars, in what is noted as the largest known cavalry charge in history. Less than three hours later the Ottoman army had been beaten.
Why it matters
Result: Christian coalition victory. Leaders: Kara Mustafa Pasha / Murad Giray against John III Sobieski / Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski. Why it matters: It was the last time the Ottoman Empire seriously challenged Vienna. In the war that followed, until 1699, the Habsburgs won most of Hungary.
What came next
The war ended with the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699, which gave much of Hungary to the Habsburgs.
Did you know?
The defeated Ottomans gave Sobieski the nickname 'the Lion of Lechistan'.
Timeline
- 1674 CEJohn III Sobieski becomes King of Poland.
- 14 July 1683 CEThe Ottoman siege of Vienna begins.
- 12 September 1683 CEThe relief army defeats the Ottomans at Vienna.
- 1699 CEThe Treaty of Karlowitz gives much of Hungary to the Habsburgs.