Battle of Zenta
Senta (Zenta), on the Tisza River, Vojvodina, Serbia
What happened
A Habsburg army under Prince Eugene of Savoy fought the Ottoman army of Sultan Mustafa II. During the Great Turkish War, the Ottoman army was crossing the Tisza River on a bridge of boats. Prince Eugene, ignoring orders from Vienna to be cautious, arrived after a ten-hour march and attacked the part of the army still on the near bank. Trapped against the river, the Ottoman army was defeated, and the sultan withdrew.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was one of the most decisive victories over the Ottoman Empire and led directly to peace talks. The resulting Treaty of Karlowitz ended Ottoman dominance in Central Europe.
What came next
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699. Zenta became part of the Habsburg lands.
Did you know?
The Habsburg army captured the sultan's state seal, something that had never happened before.
Timeline
- 1683The Ottoman siege of Vienna fails.
- 11 September 1697Prince Eugene wins at Zenta.
- 26 January 1699The Treaty of Karlowitz is signed.