Battle of Slankamen
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Slankamen (also Battle of Szlankamen in some sources) was fought near Slankamen
in the Ottoman
Sanjak of Syrmia
(modern-day Vojvodina
region, Serbia
) on August 19, 1691 between the Ottoman Empire
, and the forces of Austria
and states of the Holy Roman Empire
as part of the Great Turkish War
.
The Ottomans had suffered partial military collapse against the Austrians in the 1680s, most notably at the Battle of Vienna
in 1683, and the loss of Belgrade
to Maximilian II
of Bavaria
in 1688 and Bosnia
in 1689. However, with the beginning of the Nine Years War in the west, the early 1690s were to see an end to Habsburg conquests in the Balkans and a partial Ottoman recovery. Many German troops were withdrawn from the east to fight King Louis' French forces on the Rhine, encouraging the Ottomans, led by the Grand Vizier
Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
, to continue the war. The Ottomans managed to retake Belgrade and most of present-day Serbia.
In August 1691, Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
had been able to gather an army of 50,000 and marched south to provoke the Ottomans into another major battle, similar to the Battle of Mohács (1687)
, after which all the lost territory could be retaken.
The clash between the two forces took place on the west side of the Danube, opposite the outlet of the Tisa
. Both armies deployed near Zemun
, but the superior Ottoman army at first didn't attack for two days. Then Baden-Baden tried to provoke the attack, by withdrawing slowly to a fortified position near Slankamen. The Ottomans followed and surrounded the Austrian army. By August 19, the heat, disease and desertion had reduced both armies to 33,000 and 50,000 able men. On that day the Ottoman cavalry finally attacked.
But these were unorganized charges; despite huge but poorly armed forces the Ottomans were no match for the fire-power of Louis of Baden's
German and Austrian infantry and field guns. Additionally, the Ottoman's supply system was incapable of waging a long war on the empty expanses of the Pannonian plain.
Louis of Baden broke out of his position, besieged by the Ottomans, and turned their flanks with his cavalry, inflicting fearful carnage. After a hard battle, the 20,000 men Austrian army with 10,000 Serbian militia led by Jovan Monasterlija
was victorious over the larger Ottoman force. Amongst the Ottoman forces killed in battle was the Grand Vizier
Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
.
The Battle of Slankamen was the last battle in the Great Turkish War (1683-1697) that could have turned the war in favour of the Ottomans. Austrian victory was now inevitable. The Ottoman defeat at Slankamen eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz
in 1699.
A 16-meter tall obelisk was built in Slankamen
to commemorate the Austrian victory.
Stari Slankamen
Stari Slankamen , also known as Slankamen , is a village located in the Inđija municipality, in the Srem District of Serbia. It is situated in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
in 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...
Sanjak of Syrmia
Sanjak of Syrmia
Sanjak of Syrmia was an administrative unit of the Ottoman Empire formed in 1541. It was located in the Syrmia region and was part of the Budin Province. Administrative center of the Sanjak of Syrmia was Dimitrofça...
(modern-day Vojvodina
Vojvodina
Vojvodina, officially called Autonomous Province of Vojvodina is an autonomous province of Serbia. Its capital and largest city is Novi Sad...
region, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
) on August 19, 1691 between 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 forces of Austria
Austria
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...
and states of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy 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...
as part of 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 Ottomans had suffered partial military collapse against the Austrians in the 1680s, most notably at the Battle of Vienna
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
in 1683, and the loss of Belgrade
Siege of Belgrade (1688)
The Siege of Belgrade in 1688 was the fourth siege of that city, taking place during the Great Turkish War.Belgrade was at that time a part of the Ottoman Empire, and had been for 167 years. The Ottoman Empire was at war with the Holy League, the forces of which were led by the elector of Bavaria,...
to Maximilian II
Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian II , also known as Max Emanuel or Maximilian Emanuel, was a Wittelsbach ruler of Bavaria and an elector of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also the last Governor of the Spanish Netherlands and duke of Luxembourg...
of 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...
in 1688 and Bosnia
Bosnia Province, Ottoman Empire
The Bosnia Vilayet was an Ottoman vilayet, mostly based on the territory of the present-day state of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as most of Slavonia, Lika and Dalmatia in present-day Croatia. It bordered Kosovo Vilayet to the south. Before the administrative reform in 1864, it was called the...
in 1689. However, with the beginning of the Nine Years War in the west, the early 1690s were to see an end to Habsburg conquests in the Balkans and a partial Ottoman recovery. Many German troops were withdrawn from the east to fight King Louis' French forces on the Rhine, encouraging the Ottomans, led by the Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
Köprülü Fazil Mustafa Pasha
Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü, Ghazi Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü was an Ottoman grand vizier in the 17th century when the Ottoman Empire was engaged in a war against Holy Alliance countries in the Great Turkish War. He was a member of the Köprülü family of Albanian origin...
, to continue the war. The Ottomans managed to retake Belgrade and most of present-day Serbia.
In August 1691, Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
had been able to gather an army of 50,000 and marched south to provoke the Ottomans into another major battle, similar to the Battle of Mohács (1687)
Battle of Mohács (1687)
The Second Battle of Mohács, also known as the Battle of 'Berg Harsány', was fought between the forces of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV, commanded by the Grand-Vizier Sari Süleyman Paşa, and the forces of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, commanded by Charles of Lorraine...
, after which all the lost territory could be retaken.
The clash between the two forces took place on the west side of the Danube, opposite the outlet of the Tisa
Tisá
Tisá is a village and municipality in Ústí nad Labem District in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 786 ....
. Both armies deployed near Zemun
Zemun
Zemun is a historical town and one of the 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia...
, but the superior Ottoman army at first didn't attack for two days. Then Baden-Baden tried to provoke the attack, by withdrawing slowly to a fortified position near Slankamen. The Ottomans followed and surrounded the Austrian army. By August 19, the heat, disease and desertion had reduced both armies to 33,000 and 50,000 able men. On that day the Ottoman cavalry finally attacked.
But these were unorganized charges; despite huge but poorly armed forces the Ottomans were no match for the fire-power of Louis of Baden's
Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
German and Austrian infantry and field guns. Additionally, the Ottoman's supply system was incapable of waging a long war on the empty expanses of the Pannonian plain.
Louis of Baden broke out of his position, besieged by the Ottomans, and turned their flanks with his cavalry, inflicting fearful carnage. After a hard battle, the 20,000 men Austrian army with 10,000 Serbian militia led by Jovan Monasterlija
Jovan Monasterlija
Jovan Monasterlija was a 17th-century Serbian vice-voivode and Austrian imperial officer that led a Serb army against the Ottoman Empire and other enemies of the Austrian Emperor...
was victorious over the larger Ottoman force. Amongst the Ottoman forces killed in battle was the Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier
Grand Vizier, in Turkish Vezir-i Azam or Sadr-ı Azam , deriving from the Arabic word vizier , was the greatest minister of the Sultan, with absolute power of attorney and, in principle, dismissable only by the Sultan himself...
Köprülü Fazıl Mustafa Pasha
Köprülü Fazil Mustafa Pasha
Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü, Ghazi Fazıl Mustafa Köprülü was an Ottoman grand vizier in the 17th century when the Ottoman Empire was engaged in a war against Holy Alliance countries in the Great Turkish War. He was a member of the Köprülü family of Albanian origin...
.
The Battle of Slankamen was the last battle in the Great Turkish War (1683-1697) that could have turned the war in favour of the Ottomans. Austrian victory was now inevitable. The Ottoman defeat at Slankamen eventually led to the signing of the Treaty of Karlowitz
Treaty of Karlowitz
The Treaty of Karlowitz was signed on 26 January 1699 in Sremski Karlovci , concluding the Austro-Ottoman War of 1683–1697 in which the Ottoman side had been defeated at the Battle of Zenta...
in 1699.
A 16-meter tall obelisk was built in Slankamen
Slankamen
Slankamen may mean:* Stari Slankamen , a village in Vojvodina, Serbia.* Novi Slankamen , a village in Vojvodina, Serbia.* Battle of Slankamen during the Great Turkish War in 1691...
to commemorate the Austrian victory.