Battle of Gran
Siege of Gran 1685
| date | August 16, 1685 |
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| place | Gran , Hungary |
| output | Imperial victory |
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The Battle of Gran was a military conflict on August 16, 1685 between the armies of the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire during the Great Turkish War (1683–1699). The battle near today's city of Esztergom (Gran) ended with the defeat of the Ottoman troops.
prehistory
The war began in 1683 with an offensive by the Ottoman army against Vienna (→ Second Siege of the Turks ). After this was defeated in the Battle of Kahlenberg on September 12, 1683, the imperial army began a counter-offensive with the conquest of Hungary . As a first step, Gran was stormed by Imperial and Polish troops on October 9, 1683. The year 1684 was also successful for the imperial family. In the summer of 1685 they went to the siege of Neuhäusel under their general Karl von Lothringen . In order to divert the imperial army, the Ottoman army under the Hungarian magnate Emmerich Thököly carried out its own advance against Gran. Charles of Lorraine therefore only left an observation corps in front of Neuhäusel and marched up with his main army to relieve Gran.
course
When the opposing army approached, the Ottoman Seraskier (Minister of War), who commanded the troops, lifted the siege of Gran in order to be strong enough for the expected battle. Since August 11th, both armies faced each other in battle order on the left bank of the Danube . Finally, on August 16, Charles of Lorraine faked a retreat and thus led the Ottomans to attack. This was initially directed primarily against the right wing of the imperial family, where Charles of Lorraine himself had to intervene to reorganize his troops. After the center had also fended off an Ottoman attack, Karl gave the order to counterattack. The regiments advanced and only opened fire at the shortest distance. They also preferred artillery, which opened a devastating grape fire against the Ottoman soldiers. After a final offensive attack by the Ottomans against the left imperial wing, which was commanded by the Bavarian Elector Max Emanuel , failed, they began to flee from the battlefield. The imperial family had to refrain from pursuing them because their troops were too exhausted.
consequences
After the Ottoman army was defeated, the cities besieged by the imperial forces could no longer count on relief. Neuhäusel fell on August 19, and soon afterwards the places Eperies , Kaschau and Tokay. The Sultan therefore had Emmerich Thököly arrested in October and began to initiate peace negotiations with the emperor, which, however, remained fruitless.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Max von Turek: Turkish Wars of the Austrians , in: Bernhard von Poten (Hrsg.): Concise dictionary of the entire military sciences , Vol. 9, Leipzig / Bielfeld 1880, p. 194
- ^ Paul Wentzcke: General of the Emperor - Life and Deeds of Duke Charles V of Lorraine , Leipzig 1943, p. 246
- ↑ From the grand viziership of Mohammed Köprili to the Peace of Carlowicz, 1656 - 1699 . In: Joseph von Hammer (ed.): History of the Ottoman Empire . tape 6 . Hartleben, Pest 1830, p. 458 .
literature
- Max von Turek: Turkish Wars of the Austrians , in: Bernhard von Poten (Hrsg.): Short dictionary of the entire military sciences , Vol. 9, Velhagen & Klasing, Leipzig / Bielfeld 1880, pp. 187-198.
- Paul Wentzcke : General of the Emperor - Life and Deeds of Duke Charles V of Lorraine , Koehler & Amelang, Leipzig 1943.