Siege of Vienna

Siege of Vienna

The Siege of Vienna was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire to capture the city of Vienna. Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottomans, attacked the city with over 100,000 men, while the defenders numbered no more than 21,000. Vienna was able to survive the siege, which ultimately lasted just over two weeks, from 27 September to 15 October 1529. The failure of the siege of Vienna marked the beginning of 150 years of bitter military tension between the Habsburgs and Ottoman.

About Siege of Vienna in brief

Summary Siege of ViennaThe Siege of Vienna, in 1529, was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire to capture the city of Vienna. Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottomans, attacked the city with over 100,000 men, while the defenders, led by Niklas Graf Salm, numbered no more than 21,000. Vienna was able to survive the siege, which ultimately lasted just over two weeks, from 27 September to 15 October 1529. The siege came in the aftermath of the 1526 Battle of Mohács, which had resulted in the death of Louis II, King of Hungary, and the descent of the kingdom into civil war. The Ottoman attack on Vienna was part of the empire’s intervention into the Hungarian conflict, and in the short term sought to secure John Zápolya’s position. The failure of the siege of Vienna marked the beginning of 150 years of bitter military tension between the Habsburgs and Ottoman, punctuated by reciprocal attacks, and culminating in a second siege ofVienna in 1683. Some scholars suggest Suleima intended to use Hungary as a staging ground for an eventual invasion of Europe, while others suggest he wanted to assert Ottoman control over all of Hungary at his new borders by Ferdinand I and the Holy Roman Empire.

In the spring of 1529 he mustered a large army in Ottoman Bulgaria, with the aim of securing control over the western part of Hungary. The army incorporated a contingent from Moldavia and renegade Serbian warriors from the army of John Zánpolya. The campaign launched on 10 May 1529 and faced numerous obstacles from the onset of the spring rains that are characteristic of that year, causing heavy flooding in south-eastern Europe. Many large-reibre cannons and artillery pieces became hopelessly mired or bogged down, leaving Suleimans no choice but to abandon them, while camels brought from the Eastern provinces were used to bring food to the besieged city. On August 18 Osijek arrived on the route, claiming many lives along the perilous journey. On September 18 Osjek arrived in the city, claiming the lives of many janissaries along the route. On October 6 Osjijek brought the camels, not used to the difficult conditions, and claimed many lives in the difficult journey, claiming large numbers of deaths along the way. On November 6 Osje arrived in Vienna.