Battle of Calugareni
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Călugăreni was one of the most important battles in the history of medieval
Romania
. It took place on 23 August (13 August on old style calendar) 1595 between the Wallachia
n army led by Michael the Brave and the Ottoman
army led by Sinan Pasha
. It was part of the Long War
, fought between Christian and Ottoman forces at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries.
The whole Ottoman forces was estimated at about 100,000 men , but not all of their troops were on the battlefield at Calugareni. It seems that about 30,000-40,000 Ottoman soldiers were involved in the battle.
Michael the Brave had in total about 16,000 men and 12 large field cannons, with Transylvanian (Szekler) detachments. Being heavily outnumbered, Michael the Brave strategically positioned his forces near a swampy field (near Neajlov River) that would negate the Ottoman's military superiority. South of the village of Călugăreni
, where the Câlniştea river flows into Neajlov river, the terrain is a muddy marsh, surrounded by forests. A narrow bridge over the Neajlov river was a mandatory pass point. The battle had three different phases.
After the cavalry skirmish, Sinan Pasha
sent forward a force 12,000 strong. Michael the Brave waited for the Ottoman forces to cross the river and, after a heavy artillery bombardment, attacked fiercely pushing the Turks back over the river. The first phase of the battle ended favorably for Wallachians.
made a frontal attack over the bridge while other forces made a double flanking maneuver (Mehmet Satîrgi Pasha in the east and Hasan Pasha (beylerbey
of Rumelia
) in the west).
Janissaries attacked not only on the bridge, but also used logs and planks to help them cross the marsh. Initially their attack was stopped, but Ottoman cavalry managed to cross the river via a ford in the east and threatened the Wallachian left wing. Michael retreated, abandoning all his cannons. He rallied his troops north of the village where he stopped the Ottoman advance. The second phase of the battle ended favorably for Ottomans.
reached the bridge and the cannons were retaken and used to inflict many casualties to the Ottomans. Sinan Pasha tried to restore the situation by advancing with his personal guards, but the Ottoman forces went in disarray when captain Cocea's cavalry attacked them in the rear. Wallachians attacked simultaneously the Ottoman camp, which was near the Hulubeşti village. In the disorganized retreat, Sinan Pasha was thrown from his horse in the marsh, but saved by one of his slave
s. The Wallachians were unable to pursue the fleeing Ottomans because Hasan Pasha appeared on their right flank. Michael the Brave turned with all his men against Hasan Pasha and routed his forces.
and Târgovişte
, stopping at the winter camp in Stoieneşti, near the Rucăr-Bran Passage
.
Sinan Pasha captured the Capital, Bucharest and left there Mehmed Pasha with 10,000 troops, then captured Târgovişte
where left another 1,500 troops and 30 cannons. The bulk of the Ottoman army advanced to Stoieneşti, where it took positions in front of the Wallachian army, but didn’t attack.
On 6 September, the Transylvanian prince Sigismund Bathory
arrived with around 7,500 cavalry to support Michael the Brave. Early October another 1,500 troops from the Habsburg
empire and 300 cavalry from Toscana arrived. These combined forces attacked the Ottomans and eventually defeated them at Târgovişte
(18 October), Bucharest
(22 October), and Giurgiu
(26 October).
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It took place on 23 August (13 August on old style calendar) 1595 between the Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
n army led by Michael the Brave and the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
army led by Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
. It was part of the Long War
Long War (Ottoman wars)
The Long War took place from 1591 or 1593 to 1604 or 1606 and was one of the numerous military conflicts between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire that developed after the Battle of Mohács.- History :The major participants of this war were the Habsburg Monarchy ,...
, fought between Christian and Ottoman forces at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries.
The whole Ottoman forces was estimated at about 100,000 men , but not all of their troops were on the battlefield at Calugareni. It seems that about 30,000-40,000 Ottoman soldiers were involved in the battle.
Michael the Brave had in total about 16,000 men and 12 large field cannons, with Transylvanian (Szekler) detachments. Being heavily outnumbered, Michael the Brave strategically positioned his forces near a swampy field (near Neajlov River) that would negate the Ottoman's military superiority. South of the village of Călugăreni
Calugareni, Giurgiu
Călugăreni is a commune located in Giurgiu County, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Brăniştari, Călugăreni, Crucea de Piatră, Hulubeşti and Uzunu....
, where the Câlniştea river flows into Neajlov river, the terrain is a muddy marsh, surrounded by forests. A narrow bridge over the Neajlov river was a mandatory pass point. The battle had three different phases.
First phase of the battle
The day of 23 August 1595 started with probing cavalry attacks. The Wallachian cavalry surprised the Ottoman cavalry in front of the village and pushed it over the Neajlov river. Michael the Brave positioned himself with 10,000 troops and 10 cannons north of the Neajlov river and south of the village. The Szekler mercenary Captain Albert Király was in charge of the reserve of 6,000 Székler troops. The reserve was positioned rather far, north-west of the village, to stop any possible attack from the direction of the village of Singureni.After the cavalry skirmish, Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha
Sinan Pasha or Sinan Pashë Kahremanliu was an Albanian Grand Vizier, Ottoman military commander and statesman.-Life:...
sent forward a force 12,000 strong. Michael the Brave waited for the Ottoman forces to cross the river and, after a heavy artillery bombardment, attacked fiercely pushing the Turks back over the river. The first phase of the battle ended favorably for Wallachians.
Second phase of the battle
The second phase started at noon, when Sinan Pasha launched a decisive attack with all the forces he had at that moment. JanissariesJanissary
The Janissaries were infantry units that formed the Ottoman sultan's household troops and bodyguards...
made a frontal attack over the bridge while other forces made a double flanking maneuver (Mehmet Satîrgi Pasha in the east and Hasan Pasha (beylerbey
Beylerbey
Beylerbey is the Ottoman and Safavid title used for the highest rank in the hierarchy of provincial administrators It is in western terms a Governor-general, with authority...
of Rumelia
Rumelia
Rumelia was an historical region comprising the territories of the Ottoman Empire in Europe...
) in the west).
Janissaries attacked not only on the bridge, but also used logs and planks to help them cross the marsh. Initially their attack was stopped, but Ottoman cavalry managed to cross the river via a ford in the east and threatened the Wallachian left wing. Michael retreated, abandoning all his cannons. He rallied his troops north of the village where he stopped the Ottoman advance. The second phase of the battle ended favorably for Ottomans.
Third phase of the battle
The third and last phase of the battle took place in the afternoon of the day and started with a strong frontal Wallachian attack, led by Michael the Brave. Captain Cocea had just returned from a scouting mission with 400 cavalry and his fresh forces were used in this attack in a flanking maneuver. Mehmet Satîrgi Pasha's troops were pushed into the Janissaries and the Ottoman forces were crowded in a narrow space north of the Neajlov River. The Wallachian counterattackCounterattack
A counterattack is a tactic used in response against an attack. The term originates in military strategy. The general objective is to negate or thwart the advantage gained by the enemy in attack and the specific objectives are usually to regain lost ground or to destroy attacking enemy units.It is...
reached the bridge and the cannons were retaken and used to inflict many casualties to the Ottomans. Sinan Pasha tried to restore the situation by advancing with his personal guards, but the Ottoman forces went in disarray when captain Cocea's cavalry attacked them in the rear. Wallachians attacked simultaneously the Ottoman camp, which was near the Hulubeşti village. In the disorganized retreat, Sinan Pasha was thrown from his horse in the marsh, but saved by one of his slave
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
s. The Wallachians were unable to pursue the fleeing Ottomans because Hasan Pasha appeared on their right flank. Michael the Brave turned with all his men against Hasan Pasha and routed his forces.
Aftermath of the battle
The casualties are estimated at least 1,000 men for Wallachians, while the Ottoman casualties are thought to be in the range of 10,000 to 15,000. Michael the Brave knew that he still was greatly outnumbered, and during the night he retreated northward. He abandoned both BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and Târgovişte
Târgoviste
Târgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
, stopping at the winter camp in Stoieneşti, near the Rucăr-Bran Passage
Rucăr-Bran Passage
The Rucăr-Bran passage is one of the most spectacular natural views in Romania. It links the counties of Braşov and Argeş, with view of the Bucegi Mountains of the Southern Carpathians....
.
Sinan Pasha captured the Capital, Bucharest and left there Mehmed Pasha with 10,000 troops, then captured Târgovişte
Târgoviste
Târgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
where left another 1,500 troops and 30 cannons. The bulk of the Ottoman army advanced to Stoieneşti, where it took positions in front of the Wallachian army, but didn’t attack.
On 6 September, the Transylvanian prince Sigismund Bathory
Sigismund Báthory
Sigismund Báthory was Prince of Transylvania.-Biography:Hailing from the Báthory family's Somlyó branch, he was the son of Christopher Báthory, Voivod of Transylvania, and nephew of Stephen Báthory, King of Poland...
arrived with around 7,500 cavalry to support Michael the Brave. Early October another 1,500 troops from the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
empire and 300 cavalry from Toscana arrived. These combined forces attacked the Ottomans and eventually defeated them at Târgovişte
Târgoviste
Târgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
(18 October), Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
(22 October), and Giurgiu
Giurgiu
Giurgiu is the capital city of Giurgiu County, Romania, in the Greater Wallachia. It is situated amid mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube facing the Bulgarian city of Rousse on the opposite bank. Three small islands face the city, and a larger one shelters its port, Smarda...
(26 October).
Sources (in Romanian)
- Alexandru Atanasiu, Bătălia de la Călugăreni, 1595, Bucureşti, 1928.
- Nicolae Bălcescu, Românii supt Mihai-voievod Viteazul, în Opere, vol. III, Bucureşti, 1986.