Siege of Vienna (1529)

The Siege of Vienna of 1529 , as distinct from the Battle of Vienna in 1683, represented the farthest Westward advance into Central Europe of the Ottoman Empire , and of all the clashes between the armies of Christianity and Islam might be signaled as the battle that finally stemmed the previously-unstoppable Turkish forces (though they continued their conquest of the Austrian-controlled parts of Hungary afterwards).

The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire , led by Suleiman the Magnificent , to capture the city of Vienna , Austria . The siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power, the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe (see Ottoman wars in Europe ), and was the result of a long-lasting rivalry with Europe. Thereafter, 150 years of bitter military tension and reciprocal attacks ensued, culminating in the Battle of Vienna in 1683, which marked the start of the Great Turkish War by European powers to remove the Ottoman presence. The Ottoman failure to capture Vienna in 1529 turned the tide against almost a century of unchecked conquest throughout eastern and central Europe, which had previously claimed Southeastern Hungary as a vassal state in the wake of the Battle of Mohács . According to Toynbee, "The failure of the first [siege of Vienna] brought to a standstill the tide of Ottoman conquest which had been flooding up the Danube Valley for a century past." There is speculation by some historians that Suleiman's main objective in 1529 was in actuality to reassert Ottoman control over Hungary, the western part of which still held out as an independent monarchy known as Royal Hungary . The decision to attack Vienna after such a long interval in Suleiman's European campaign is viewed as an opportunistic manoeuvre after his decisive victory in Hungary. Other scholars theorize that the suppression of Hungary simply marked the prologue to a later, premeditated invasion of Europe. Turnbull says the garrison was "over 16,000 strong". Who's Who in Military History , p 283; Some estimates are just above 20,000, for example: "Together with Wilhelm von Roggendorf, the Marshal of Austria, Salm conducted the defense of Vienna with 16,000 regulars and 5,000 militia." Dupuy, Trevor, et al. , The Encyclopedia of Military Biography , p 653. Turnbull suggests Suleiman had "perhaps 120,000" troops when he reached Osijek on 6 August. The Ottoman Empire , p 50; Christopher Duffy suggests "Suleiman led an army of 125,000 Turks". The Ottoman Empire 1326 - 1699. The Ottoman Empire 1326 - 1699. Riley-Smith, p 256; "A last minute decision following a quick victory in Hungary". Shaw and Shaw, p 94; Other historians, for example Stephen Turnbull, regard the suppression of Hungary as the calculated prologue to an invasion further into Europe: "John Szapolya [ sic ] became a footnote in the next great Turkish advance against Europe in the most ambitious campaign of the great Sultan’s reign." Turnbull, p 50.

The Siege of Vienna in 1529 was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire , led by Suleiman the Magnificent , to capture the city of Vienna , Austria. The siege came in the aftermath of the 1526 Battle of Mohács , which had resulted in the death of the King of Hungary and the descent of the kingdom into civil war, with rival factions supporting the Habsburg Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria and others supporting the Ottoman-backed John Zápolya . The Ottoman attack on Vienna was part of their intervention into the Hungarian conflict, intended in the short term to secure Zápolya's position. Historians disagree in their interpretation of Ottoman long-term goals and regarding what motivations lay behind the choice of Vienna in particular as the target of the campaign. The failure of the siege marked the beginning of 150 years of bitter military tension and reciprocal attacks, culminating in a second siege of Vienna in 1683. There is speculation by some historians that Suleiman's main objective in 1529 was actually to assert Ottoman control over the whole of Hungary, the western part of which (known as Royal Hungary ) was under Habsburg control. The decision to attack Vienna after such a long interval in Suleiman's European campaign is viewed as an opportunistic manoeuvre after his decisive victory in Hungary. Other scholars theorise that the suppression of Hungary simply marked the prologue to a later, premeditated invasion of Europe. History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey . Turnbull says the garrison was "over 16,000 strong". Who's Who in Military History , p 283; Some estimates are just above 20,000, for example: "Together with Wilhelm von Roggendorf, the Marshal of Austria, Salm conducted the defense of Vienna with 16,000 regulars and 5,000 militia." Dupuy, Trevor, et al. , The Encyclopedia of Military Biography , p 653. Turnbull suggests Suleiman had "perhaps 120,000" troops when he reached Osijek on 6 August. The Ottoman Empire , p 50; Christopher Duffy suggests "Suleiman led an army of 125,000 Turks". It was an "afterthought towards the end of a season of campaigning". Riley-Smith, p 256; "A last-minute decision following a quick victory in Hungary". Shaw and Shaw, p 94; Other historians, for example Stephen Turnbull, regard the suppression of Hungary as the calculated prologue to an invasion further into Europe: "John Szapolya [ sic ] became a footnote in the next great Turkish advance against Europe in the most ambitious campaign of the great Sultan's reign." Turnbull, p 50.

Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe and the Ottoman–Habsburg wars Belligerents Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Bohemia Electorate of the Palatinate Duchy of Carniola Spanish Empire Ottoman Empire Moldavia Commanders and leaders Niklas Graf Salm ( WIA ) Philipp der Streitbare Wilhelm von Roggendorf Petar Keglević Johann Katzianer Pavle Bakić Suleiman the Magnificent Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha Strength c. 17,000–21,000 c. 120,000–125,000 (only 100,000 were available during the siege) Casualties and losses Unknown, with presumably high civilian fatalities More than 1,500 dead (10% of the besieged) 15,000 wounded, dead or captured The Siege of Vienna , in 1529, was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire to capture the capital city of Vienna , Austria , Holy Roman Empire . 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. Nevertheless, 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. Following Louis' death, rival factions within Hungary selected two successors: Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria , supported by the House of Habsburg , and John Zápolya . Zápolya would eventually seek aid from, and become a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, after Ferdinand began to take control of western Hungary, including the city of Buda . The Ottoman attack on Vienna was part of the empire's intervention into the Hungarian conflict, and in the short term sought to secure Zápolya's position. Historians offer conflicting interpretations of the Ottoman's long-term goals, including the motivations behind the choice of Vienna as the campaign's immediate target. Some modern historians suggest that Suleiman's primary objective was to assert Ottoman control over all of Hungary, including the western part (known as Royal Hungary ) that was then still under Habsburg control. Some scholars suggest Suleiman intended to use Hungary as a staging ground for further invasion of Europe. The failure of the siege of Vienna marked the beginning of 150 years of bitter military tension between the Habsburgs and Ottomans, punctuated by reciprocal attacks, and culminating in a second Siege of Vienna in 1683. History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey . Turnbull says the garrison was "over 16,000 strong". Turnbull suggests Suleiman had "perhaps 120,000" troops when he reached Osijek on 6 August.

Failed siege of the Ottoman–Habsburg wars For other uses, see Siege of Vienna (disambiguation) . The siege of Vienna , in 1529, was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire to capture the city of Vienna in the Archduchy of Austria , part of the Holy Roman Empire . 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. Nevertheless, 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. Following Louis' death, rival factions within Hungary selected two successors: Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria , supported by the House of Habsburg , and John Zápolya . Zápolya would eventually seek aid from, and become a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, after Ferdinand began to take control of western Hungary, including the city of Buda . The Ottoman attack on Vienna was part of the empire's intervention into the Hungarian conflict, and in the short term sought to secure Zápolya's position. Historians offer conflicting interpretations of the Ottoman's long-term goals, including the motivations behind the choice of Vienna as the campaign's immediate target. Some modern historians suggest that Suleiman's primary objective was to assert Ottoman control over all of Hungary, including the western part (known as Royal Hungary ) that was then still under Habsburg control. Some scholars suggest Suleiman intended to use Hungary as a staging ground for further invasion of Europe. The failure of the siege of Vienna marked the beginning of 150 years of bitter military tension between the Habsburgs and Ottomans, punctuated by reciprocal attacks, and culminating in a second siege of Vienna in 1683. History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey . Turnbull says the garrison was "over 16,000 strong". Turnbull suggests Suleiman had "perhaps 120,000" troops when he reached Osijek on 6 August. The sieges of Vienna by the Turks. It was an "afterthought towards the end of a season of campaigning".