Battle of Párkány
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Párkány (7–9 October 1683) was fought in the town of Párkány (today: Štúrovo
), in the Ottoman Empire
, and the area surrounding it as part of the Polish-Ottoman War
and the Great Turkish War
. The battle was fought in two stages. In the first stage the Polish-Lithuanian troops under John III Sobieski
were defeated by the Ottoman
army, under Kara Mehmed Pasha on 7 October 1683. In the second stage of the battle John III Sobieski, supported by Austrian
forces under Charles V, Duke of Lorraine
defeated the Ottoman forces, which were supported by the troops of Imre Thököly
, and gained control of Párkány on 9 October 1683.
and besieged Vienna on 14 July 1683. On 6 September, the Polish-Lithuanian
army under John III Sobieski
arrived in Tulln, and united with imperial forces
and additional troops from Saxony
, Bavaria
, Baden
, Franconia
and Swabia
who had answered the call for a Holy League that was supported by Pope Innocent XI
.
The Ottoman army totaling around 150,000 men under Kara Mustafa Pasha was eventually defeated on 11 September 1683. The main part of the Ottoman forces retreated in the Balkans. A part of the Ottoman army under Kara Mehmed Pasha encamped in Párkány, in Hungary, where they were supported by Imre Thököly
, a local ruler. The Polish forces under John III Sobieski followed the Ottoman troops in Pakarny in order defeat them as they retreated.
joined the Polish army. After defeating the Polish cavalry Kara Mehmed Pasha was sent 8,000 elite cavalrymen by Kara Mustafa Pasha. The troops of Imre Thököly were waiting for attack orders on the outskirts of Párkány. On 9 October 1683 the Imperial Army
formed three lines. In the centre of the lines were positioned 7,600 infantrymen under Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg
.
The Polish army was positioned on the wings. John III Sobieski led the right wing, and Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski the left wing.
On the right side of the lines 4,500 cavalry under Ludwig Wilhelm, Margrave of Baden-Baden were positioned. On the left side of the lines 4,500 cavalry were positioned under Johann von Dünewald. The Ottoman forces attacked the first line of the imperial army unsuccessfully and were flanked by the Polish cavalry. The Ottoman army was defeated and lost about 9,000 men during the battle.
.
Štúrovo
Štúrovo is a town in Slovakia, situated on the River Danube. Its population in 2005 was 11,172.The town is situated opposite the Hungarian city of Esztergom. The Mária Valéria bridge connects the settlements. The bridge was destroyed in 1944 during World War II, but reconstructed in...
), in the Ottoman Empire
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...
, and the area surrounding it as part of the Polish-Ottoman War
Polish–Ottoman War (1683-1699)
Polish–Ottoman War , the Third Polish–Ottoman War or the War of the Holy League refers to the Polish side of the conflict otherwise known as the Great Turkish War...
and the Great Turkish War
Great Turkish War
The Great Turkish War refers to a series of conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and contemporary European powers, then joined into a Holy League, during the second half of the 17th century.-1667–1683:...
. The battle was fought in two stages. In the first stage the Polish-Lithuanian troops under John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and...
were defeated by 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, under Kara Mehmed Pasha on 7 October 1683. In the second stage of the battle John III Sobieski, supported by Austrian
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
forces under Charles V, Duke of Lorraine
Charles V, Duke of Lorraine
Charles V , Karl V. Leopold, , son of Nicolas François, Duke of Lorraine, and Claude Françoise de Lorraine. Karl Leopold was born in Vienna and became the brother in law of Emperor Leopold and son in law of emperor Ferdinand III...
defeated the Ottoman forces, which were supported by the troops of Imre Thököly
Imre Thököly
Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk was a Hungarian statesman, leader of an anti-Habsburg uprising, Prince of Transylvania, and vassal king of Upper Hungary.- Early life :Imre Thököly was born at Késmárk, Royal Hungary Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk (Thököly/Tököly/Tökölli Imre in Hungarian, Mirko...
, and gained control of Párkány on 9 October 1683.
Prelude to battle
On 1 May 1683 the Ottoman Empire attacked the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and besieged Vienna on 14 July 1683. On 6 September, the Polish-Lithuanian
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
army under John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski
John III Sobieski was one of the most notable monarchs of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, from 1674 until his death King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania. Sobieski's 22-year-reign was marked by a period of the Commonwealth's stabilization, much needed after the turmoil of the Deluge and...
arrived in Tulln, and united with imperial forces
Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire
The Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire was the army of the Holy Roman Empire...
and additional troops from Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, Bavaria
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...
, Baden
Baden
Baden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, Franconia
Franconia
Franconia is a region of Germany comprising the northern parts of the modern state of Bavaria, a small part of southern Thuringia, and a region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg called Tauberfranken...
and Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
who had answered the call for a Holy League that was supported by Pope Innocent XI
Pope Innocent XI
Blessed Pope Innocent XI , born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope from 1676 to 1689.-Early life:Benedetto Odescalchi was born at Como in 1611 , the son of a Como nobleman, Livio Odescalchi, and Paola Castelli Giovanelli from Gandino...
.
The Ottoman army totaling around 150,000 men under Kara Mustafa Pasha was eventually defeated on 11 September 1683. The main part of the Ottoman forces retreated in the Balkans. A part of the Ottoman army under Kara Mehmed Pasha encamped in Párkány, in Hungary, where they were supported by Imre Thököly
Imre Thököly
Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk was a Hungarian statesman, leader of an anti-Habsburg uprising, Prince of Transylvania, and vassal king of Upper Hungary.- Early life :Imre Thököly was born at Késmárk, Royal Hungary Count Imre Thököly de Késmárk (Thököly/Tököly/Tökölli Imre in Hungarian, Mirko...
, a local ruler. The Polish forces under John III Sobieski followed the Ottoman troops in Pakarny in order defeat them as they retreated.
First stage of battle
On 6 October 1683 the Polish army reached the environs of Párkány. The army commanders advised caution, suggesting the advanced guards should rest for a day. Instead, Sobieski decided to surprise the Ottoman army by attacking them with his cavalry. On 7 October 1683 the Polish troops totaling around 5,000 soldiers under Sobieski advanced in a rather disorganized manner towards the Ottoman positions. A Polish dragoon regiment under Stefan Bidziński was leading the advance. Suddenly a mass of Ottoman cavalry surged forward to attack them. The dragoon regiment was caught completely by surprise – it did not even have the match-cords of its muskets lit – and was quickly overwhelmed. The surviving dragoons fled back in panic into Sobieski's main force closely followed by the Turkish horse, and forced the Poles to beat a hasty retreat, to the safety of the Imperial army which was following on several kilometres behind. The Polish army lost around 1,000 soldiers; only the intervention of the imperial cavalry prevented the Ottoman troops from causing far heavier losses.Second stage of battle
On 8 October 1683 imperial reinforcements totaling 16,700 troops under Charles V, Duke of LorraineCharles V, Duke of Lorraine
Charles V , Karl V. Leopold, , son of Nicolas François, Duke of Lorraine, and Claude Françoise de Lorraine. Karl Leopold was born in Vienna and became the brother in law of Emperor Leopold and son in law of emperor Ferdinand III...
joined the Polish army. After defeating the Polish cavalry Kara Mehmed Pasha was sent 8,000 elite cavalrymen by Kara Mustafa Pasha. The troops of Imre Thököly were waiting for attack orders on the outskirts of Párkány. On 9 October 1683 the Imperial Army
Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire
The Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire was the army of the Holy Roman Empire...
formed three lines. In the centre of the lines were positioned 7,600 infantrymen under Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg
Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg
Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg was the army commander of Vienna during the second siege of Vienna in 1683, imperial general during the Great Turkish War and President of the Hofkriegsrat.Starhemberg fought in the 1660s under Raimondo Montecuccoli against the French and the Turks.In 1683 he...
.
The Polish army was positioned on the wings. John III Sobieski led the right wing, and Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski the left wing.
On the right side of the lines 4,500 cavalry under Ludwig Wilhelm, Margrave of Baden-Baden were positioned. On the left side of the lines 4,500 cavalry were positioned under Johann von Dünewald. The Ottoman forces attacked the first line of the imperial army unsuccessfully and were flanked by the Polish cavalry. The Ottoman army was defeated and lost about 9,000 men during the battle.
Aftermath
After defeating the Ottomans in Párkány, the imperial forces continued their march and defeated the Ottomans multiple times, while gaining control of Ottoman territories in Hungary. Kara Mustafa Pasha was executed for failing to defend the Hungarian territories of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman 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...
.