Battle of Mór
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Mór was a battle in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
, fought on 30 December 1848 between Austria
and Hungarian insurgents. The Austrians were led by Croatian
Ban
Josip Jelačić
, while the Hungarians were led by Mór Perczel
. The Austrians were victorious and Buda
lost it is independence.
Artúr Görgey
with his army between Channel Nádas and Lake Fertő was against Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz. Major General
Mór Perczel
led approximately 10,000 soldiers and tried to defend Međimurje against Laval Nugent who was stationed at Styria.
Hoping the Austrians would not attack, the Hungarian military leadership started to establish new troops and organise their forces. But, on 14 December, Windisch-Grätz started his attack and this meant a new period of the Revolution. This is called the "Winter Campaign".
The larger Austrian army managed to break through the Hungarian defence. The Hungarian army started to retreat towards Győr
and Buda
. Lajos Kossuth
tried to convince Görgey to continue the fight, and he sent more legions from other theatres of battle to help. On 16 December Perczel received an order that he was to make contact with Görgey. This meant that the Hungarian troops gave up South Transdanubia without a fight.
In his dispatches Kossuth commanded Görgey and Perczel to engage the Austrians. Kossuth made a mistake, as he knew that Perczel needed little encouragement to start a fight. On 30 December Perczel was in Mór
when he received Kossuth's letter and, even though his more-educated officers advised him not to fight, he undertook the battle. Before the battle Perczel forgot to inform Görgey of his decision even though he was close by.
The Hungarian artillery stopped Jelačić’s front line and they were advancing when Ferenc Ottinger
's front line arrived. The balance of forces significantly changed. Jelačić’s legion had fewer soldiers than Perczel’s, but Jelačić and his legion were more powerful.
The weak and barely fighting Hungarian soldiers escaped to the forest. They managed to save almost all of the artillery but Perczel could only reorganize his legion in Székesfehérvár
. The loss to Hungary was about 2,500 men, most of them were taken prisoner. They also lost at least 5 cannon.
. On 2 January 1849 the Council of War decided not to fight for the empty Buda and Pest. Three weeks after the start of the Winter Campaign Windisch-Grätz marched on Buda
.
Hungarian Revolution of 1848
The Hungarian Revolution of 1848 was one of many of the European Revolutions of 1848 and closely linked to other revolutions of 1848 in the Habsburg areas...
, fought on 30 December 1848 between Austria
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and Hungarian insurgents. The Austrians were led by Croatian
Croats
Croats are a South Slavic ethnic group mostly living in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and nearby countries. There are around 4 million Croats living inside Croatia and up to 4.5 million throughout the rest of the world. Responding to political, social and economic pressure, many Croats have...
Ban
Ban (title)
Ban was a title used in several states in central and south-eastern Europe between the 7th century and the 20th century.-Etymology:The word ban has entered the English language probably as a borrowing from South Slavic ban, meaning "lord, master; ruler". The Slavic word is probably borrowed from...
Josip Jelačić
Josip Jelacic
Count Josip Jelačić of Bužim was the Ban of Croatia between 23 March 1848 and 19 May 1859...
, while the Hungarians were led by Mór Perczel
Mór Perczel
Sir Mór Perczel de Bonyhád , was a Hungarian landholder, general, and one of the leaders of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.- Life before 1848 :...
. The Austrians were victorious and Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
lost it is independence.
Pretext
In the summer of 1848 two separated armies were defending the Western Hungarian borders. Major GeneralMajor General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Artúr Görgey
Artúr Görgey
----Artúr Görgey de Görgő et Toporcz was a Hungarian military leader.He was born at Toporz in Upper Hungary of a Hungarian noble family of originally Zipser German descent who immigrated to Upper Hungary during the reign of king Géza II . During the reformation they were converted to Protestantism...
with his army between Channel Nádas and Lake Fertő was against Alfred I, Prince of Windisch-Grätz. Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Mór Perczel
Mór Perczel
Sir Mór Perczel de Bonyhád , was a Hungarian landholder, general, and one of the leaders of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.- Life before 1848 :...
led approximately 10,000 soldiers and tried to defend Međimurje against Laval Nugent who was stationed at Styria.
Hoping the Austrians would not attack, the Hungarian military leadership started to establish new troops and organise their forces. But, on 14 December, Windisch-Grätz started his attack and this meant a new period of the Revolution. This is called the "Winter Campaign".
The larger Austrian army managed to break through the Hungarian defence. The Hungarian army started to retreat towards Győr
Gyor
-Climate:-Main sights:The ancient core of the city is Káptalan Hill at the confluence of three rivers: the Danube, Rába and Rábca. Püspökvár, the residence of Győr’s bishops can be easily recognised by its incomplete tower. Győr’s oldest buildings are the 13th-century dwelling tower and the...
and Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
. Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth
Lajos Kossuth de Udvard et Kossuthfalva was a Hungarian lawyer, journalist, politician and Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.-Family:Lajos...
tried to convince Görgey to continue the fight, and he sent more legions from other theatres of battle to help. On 16 December Perczel received an order that he was to make contact with Görgey. This meant that the Hungarian troops gave up South Transdanubia without a fight.
In his dispatches Kossuth commanded Görgey and Perczel to engage the Austrians. Kossuth made a mistake, as he knew that Perczel needed little encouragement to start a fight. On 30 December Perczel was in Mór
Mór
Mór is a town in Fejér county, Hungary. Among the smaller towns in the middle Transdanubian region of Hungary, it lies between Vértes and Bakony Hills, in the northwestern corner of Fejér Country. The historic roots of the present town go back to the Celtic an Roman Period...
when he received Kossuth's letter and, even though his more-educated officers advised him not to fight, he undertook the battle. Before the battle Perczel forgot to inform Görgey of his decision even though he was close by.
Battle
Perczel’s legion contained approximately 6,500 soldiers and 24 cannon. The northern area near Mór was disadvantageous, because it was surrounded by a forest which the Austrians could easily break through. Perczel had determination, and the fact that the Austrians had a smaller army there made him more confident. But he did not reconnoitre the Austrians, so he did not realise how powerful they were.The Hungarian artillery stopped Jelačić’s front line and they were advancing when Ferenc Ottinger
Ferenc Ottinger
Baron Ferenc Ottinger was a Lieutenant General to Franz Josef I of Austria, a Cavalry General and one of the leading generals in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.-Career:...
's front line arrived. The balance of forces significantly changed. Jelačić’s legion had fewer soldiers than Perczel’s, but Jelačić and his legion were more powerful.
The weak and barely fighting Hungarian soldiers escaped to the forest. They managed to save almost all of the artillery but Perczel could only reorganize his legion in Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár
Székesfehérvár is a city in central Hungary and is the 9th largest in the country. Located around southwest of Budapest. It is inhabited by 101,973 people , with 136,995 in the Székesfehérvár Subregion. The city is the centre of Fejér county and the regional centre of Central Transdanubia...
. The loss to Hungary was about 2,500 men, most of them were taken prisoner. They also lost at least 5 cannon.
Aftermath
Hearing the news that Perczel lost the battle, Görgey withdrew again in fear that Jelačić would surround the Hungarian army from the south. The legion on the Upper Danube had to protect almost every road to Buda. Because of this they moved closer to Buda, the capital city, as it was in danger from the Austrians. On 31 December the Government decided to decamp to DebrecenDebrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
. On 2 January 1849 the Council of War decided not to fight for the empty Buda and Pest. Three weeks after the start of the Winter Campaign Windisch-Grätz marched on Buda
Buda
For detailed information see: History of Buda CastleBuda is the western part of the Hungarian capital Budapest on the west bank of the Danube. The name Buda takes its name from the name of Bleda the Hun ruler, whose name is also Buda in Hungarian.Buda comprises about one-third of Budapest's...
.