Today is the 325th anniversary of
The Battle of ViennaThe Battle of Vienna took place on 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the (Islamic) Ottoman Empire for two months. The battle broke the advance of the Islamic forces of the Ottoman Empire into Europe, and marked beginning of the political hegemony of the Hapsburg dynasty in Central Europe.
The large-scale battle was won by Polish-Austrian-German forces led by King of Poland John III Sobieski against the Ottoman Empire army commanded by Grand Vizier Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha.
The siege itself began on 14 July 1683, by the (Islamic) Ottoman Empire army of approximately 90,000 men[citation needed]. The besieging force was composed of 60 ortas of Jannisaries (12,000 men paper strength) with an observation army of c.70,000 men watching the countryside. The decisive battle took place on 12 September, after the united relief army of 84,450 men had arrived.
The battle marked the turning point in the 300-year struggle between the forces of the Central European kingdoms and the Ottoman Empire. Over the sixteen years following the battle, the Hapsburg of Austria gradually occupied and dominated southern Hungary and Transylvania, which had been largely cleared of the Turkish (Islamic) forces.
The forces of Islam were stopped once. Will Europe be able to do it again? Will there be a
Jan Sobieski for the 21st century? Pray that there will.
ht:
Shawmut for reminding me of this notable date.
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