Battle of Brezalauspurc
Encyclopedia
Battle of Pressburg, or Battle of Bratislava (Slovakian) or Battle of Pozsony (Hungarian) refers to a battle fought on July 4, 907, during which the Bavaria
n army was defeated by the Hungarians.
Luitpold
of Bavaria built up his army and attempted to score a decisive victory against the Hungarians, who already formed an important state in Europe
. The German
army supposedly included more than 100,000 soldiers, which is almost certainly an exaggeration typical of the time. Árpád
's army the Hungarian was only around 30-35,000. Few medieval armies are known to have exceeded 10,000. The German army, consisting of three battle groups, was crushed and a large part of Luitpold's army was destroyed. The German casualties included the Margrave, Archbishop Theotmar, three bishop
s and 35 count
s.
maximi (Annals of Salzburg); however, the reliability of these annals is questionable, as they survive only in fragments copied in the 12th century. They state that the battle took place in the vicinity of Brezalauspurc, the castle of Duke Brazlavo, located west of Lake Balaton
. Some interpretations equal Brezalauspurc with modern-day Bratislava
or east of Vienna
while others claim that it was Urbs Paludarum - Brazlavo's burg near Lake Balaton in Pannonia.
up to the River Enns
, began pillaging the surrounding regions. The Hungarian threat to Germany persisted until 955 when Otto I the Great won a decisive victory at the Battle of Lechfeld
, which brought internal stability to German
lands. However after the battle (907) Germans could not attack Hungary
for 100 years.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n army was defeated by the Hungarians.
The battle
MargraveMargrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
Luitpold
Luitpold, Margrave of Bavaria
Luitpold , perhaps of the Huosi family or related to the Carolingian dynasty by Liutswind, mother of Emperor Arnulf of Carinthia, was the ancestor of the Luitpolding dynasty which ruled Bavaria and Carinthia until the mid-tenth century.In 893, he was appointed margrave in the March of Carinthia...
of Bavaria built up his army and attempted to score a decisive victory against the Hungarians, who already formed an important state in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
army supposedly included more than 100,000 soldiers, which is almost certainly an exaggeration typical of the time. Árpád
Árpád
Árpád was the second Grand Prince of the Hungarians . Under his rule the Hungarian people settled in the Carpathian basin. The dynasty descending from him ruled the Hungarian tribes and later the Kingdom of Hungary until 1301...
's army the Hungarian was only around 30-35,000. Few medieval armies are known to have exceeded 10,000. The German army, consisting of three battle groups, was crushed and a large part of Luitpold's army was destroyed. The German casualties included the Margrave, Archbishop Theotmar, three bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s and 35 count
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
s.
Location
The precise location of this battle is not known. The only contemporary source mentioning a location of the battle are the Annales IuvavensesAnnales Iuvavenses
The Annales iuvavenses or Annals of Salzburg were a series of annals written in the 9th and 10th centuries at Salzburg in the East Frankish stem duchy of Bavaria...
maximi (Annals of Salzburg); however, the reliability of these annals is questionable, as they survive only in fragments copied in the 12th century. They state that the battle took place in the vicinity of Brezalauspurc, the castle of Duke Brazlavo, located west of Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton
Lake Balaton is a freshwater lake in the Transdanubian region of Hungary. It is the largest lake in Central Europe, and one of its foremost tourist destinations. As Hungary is landlocked , Lake Balaton is often affectionately called the "Hungarian Sea"...
. Some interpretations equal Brezalauspurc with modern-day Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
or east of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
while others claim that it was Urbs Paludarum - Brazlavo's burg near Lake Balaton in Pannonia.
Aftermath
After the Battle, the Hungarians reoccupied present-day eastern AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
up to the River Enns
Enns
Enns may refer to:* Enns , Upper Austria, Austria* Enns , a surname* Enns , a southern tributary of the Danube River...
, began pillaging the surrounding regions. The Hungarian threat to Germany persisted until 955 when Otto I the Great won a decisive victory at the Battle of Lechfeld
Battle of Lechfeld
The Battle of Lechfeld , often seen as the defining event for holding off the incursions of the Hungarians into Western Europe, was a decisive victory by Otto I the Great, King of the Germans, over the Hungarian leaders, the harka Bulcsú and the chieftains Lél and Súr...
, which brought internal stability to German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
lands. However after the battle (907) Germans could not attack Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
for 100 years.