Battle of Trenčín

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Battle of Trenčín
Monument to the Battle of Trencin
Monument to the Battle of Trencin
date August 3, 1708
place south of Trenčín , Hungary
output Victory of the Habsburgs
Parties to the conflict

Habsburg
Serbs

Shorts

Commander

Sigbert Heister
Johann Pálffy

Francis II Rákóczi
de la Motte
Lorenz Pekri

Troop strength
5,000 men
3,000 Serbs 		15,000 men
12 guns
losses

200 killed

3,000 killed
500 prisoners
12 guns

The Battle of Trenčín ( Hungarian trencséni csata , Slovak bitka pri Trenčíne ) was a military conflict between a Habsburg imperial army commanded by Sigbert Heister and the rebels of Francis II Rákóczi . It took place about six kilometers south of what was then Trenčín in the Kingdom of Hungary , today Trenčín in western Slovakia, between the present-day communities of Soblahov , Trenčianska Turná , Mníchova Lehota and Trenčianske Stankovce . The battle ended with great losses for the insurgents and marked a turning point for the Rákóczi uprising, as the Habsburgs got the upper hand and were finally able to put down the uprising in 1711.

prehistory

In 1708 Rákóczi decided to go on a campaign to Silesia in order to get the support of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm for the uprising and possibly to prepare his way to the Hungarian throne. But at the urging of his generals, the march through the upper Waagtal followed in order to conquer the castle of Trenčín , which was owned by the Habsburgs, after the project to share his forces failed. But the slow march enabled the Habsburg commander Sigbert Heister to reinforce the garrison in the castle. However, with a total of 8,000 men, he had a clear disadvantage compared to the 15,000-man insurgent army, which also had 12 guns.

course

After the arduous night march, the Heister army reached the hilly battlefield near today's Trenčianske Stankovce municipality at around six o'clock. The Kuruzzen camped along the road from Trenčín to Mníchova Lehota and were divided as follows:

  • on the right wing (between Mníchova Lehota and Soblahov) the light cavalry and infantry were under Lorenz Pekri's command, partially covered by the confusing terrain
  • the center near the village of Hámry (today part of Trenčianska Turná) was under the command of Rákóczi and comprised German and Polish carbines; the artillery under General de la Motte was also located here
  • the left wing (between Trenčianska Turná and Trenčianske Stankovce) comprised the rest of the infantry

When Heister saw the strength of the Kuruzzen, he wanted to avoid a battle on the confusing battlefield and go to the castle of Trenčín under the protection of the cannons. During the regrouping, the Kuruzzen artillery opened fire on the imperial army at around 8 a.m. and at the same time the cavalry began to advance on the right wing. On the way, however, there was a dam between two ponds and confusing terrain that was not suitable for a cavalry attack. After Pekri was made aware of the risks of such a maneuver, he gave the order to retreat, which led to chaotic conditions. This was used by the imperial commander Johann Pálffy and he and his cavalry attacked the Kuruzzen cavalry, which was entangled in disorder and then fled in panic.

Meanwhile the hard fight began in other parts of the battlefield as well. Rákóczi's infantry on the center and left wing has so far been able to defend itself against the Imperial forces, but the escape of the cavalry brought uncertainty into his army. Therefore Rákóczi himself wanted to raise the morale of his soldiers and rode on his horse on the battlefield. However, when jumping over a ditch, he fell to the ground, injured himself and passed out. Although he was rescued from the Imperial forces, news of his alleged death spread, causing panic among his units, who subsequently fled. Within three hours Heister's army was able to defeat the Kuruzzen, which were almost twice as strong, until the rest of them fled in general retreat at 11 o'clock over the mountains to Topolchan and Nitrianska Streda .

About 3,000 men of the Kuruzzen Army fell on the battlefield, including General de la Motte. 500 men were taken prisoner and all Kuruzzen guns were taken by Heister's army, whose losses were only 200 men.

Follow

In the battle of Trenčín the Kuruzzen army suffered a heavy defeat against an experienced and trained imperial army and the lower fighting ability became apparent. With the exception of a few minor victories, the insurgents could no longer repel any imperial attacks. By the end of the year, the Kuruzzen lost what is now western and central Slovakia and, despite one last attempt by Rákóczi, in December 1708, at a meeting without many of the former fighters who fled or converted to the Habsburg side, was able to stir up again against the Habsburgs the final defeat will not be stopped. The last centers of the uprising in Muran and Kosice surrendered in April 1711 and it was followed by the closed on 29 April 1711 Treaty of Szatmár , which meant the final end of the uprising.

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