Battles of Komárom
Encyclopedia
Three Battles of Komárom were fought in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848
between the Hungarian and Austrian armies at the Castle of Komárom
.
The Austrian legions were attacking Komárom from December 1848. Under the command of János Damjanich
and György Klapka
Hungarian troops arrived to liberate the city. Four days later the Hungarian legions were successful and beat Austrians.
On 18 June 1849 the 1,000-strong Russian army arrived to help the Austrian army and together they tried to attack and occupy the castle. They attacked the Hungarian army on 20 June at Pered and on 28 June at Győr
, both of which ended with Hungarian defeat.
The second and the third battle at Komárom made another important chapter in the eight-month-long siege. Artúr Görgey
and György Klapka
, defenders of Komárom Castle, mounted a second attack on the Austrian army on 2 July 1849. The young Hungarian army successfully defended the castle even though the Austrian army outnumbered them. The third battle ended on 11 July when another Austrian attempt to break through the Hungarian defences also failed.
Görgey and Lajos Kossuth
considered the first battle (or "Komárom-Szőny
" battle) the most important battle of the Revolution. It decided the fate of Hungary. Because of this battle the Austrian army asked the Russian Czar for help. Görgey's army was approximately 24,000 strong, whereas the Austrian army had 30,000 men under the command of Franz Schlik
.
The Hungarian army started the attack. Colonel Károly Knezich and his legion of 4,000 men crossed the River Danube
. Meanwhile Colonel Pál Kiss occupied Újszőny, a district of Komárom
, the Monastery of Koppány and the right bank of the Danube. Around 9 am Damjanich came out of the castle and with Kiss attacked Schlik. During this time Görgey attacked the Austrian army that was advancing towards Ács
. Klapka moved to Ószőny
. After a heavy fight the Austrian army dominated the battle, so the Hungarian army had to retreat to Csillagerőd ("Star Fort"). At the same time József Nagysándor
attacked Schlik's army from the rear. Wilhelm von Montenuovo attacked Nagysándor and also Damjanich, but without success. Around 1 pm Görgey came into the battle. The Austrians advanced towards Győr
with the loss of 2,000 men. The Hungarian loss was approximately 800 men.
, started on 2 July. The Austrian Supreme Commander Julius Jacob von Haynau
and Schlik jointly attacked Komárom at 5 am. Görgey commanded the right flank and the middle, and Klapka commanded the left flank. Károly Leiningen-Westerburg
fought against the Austrian army at Mocsa
, but after the first couple of successes the Hungarian army had to withdraw. Klapka, seeing the bigger Austrian army, withdrew his legion from Szőny to Újszőny.
Leiningen started the fight, but the Austrian army won it. Major Rakovszky and Ernő Poeltenberg
's attacks were more successful. They occupied the monastery and Herkálypuszta. After this, Klapka gave the order to retake Ószőny. The fight at Ószőny ended with Hungarian success.
Meanwhile at the monastery the Austrians were successful: they occupied the vineyard on the hill and got nearer towards to the Hungarians. After they put their flag as a symbol of victory, they fought with the hiding Hungarians on Elisabeth Island. The Hungarians made them retreat to Ács.
After the attack on the monastery, around 5 pm, Klapka started to attack Ószőny. The Austrians won two attacks, but they lost the third and had to retreat to Mocsa. At the same time Poeltenberg and Görgey attacked the Ausrians and won. At Csém
he confronted the Russian army and lost. Görgey had other unsuccessful attacks and he himself was injured. The battle ended around 8 pm. The Austrian army lost 900 men, the Hungarian loss was approximately 1,500 men.
. Görgey didn't follow the command because Haynau's army blocked the way south. The government gave a new order and on 11 July the Hungarian army started to attack the Austrians. New Hungarian troops arrived under the command of Ármin Görgey, and from Bátorkeszi under József Nagysándor
.
The Hungarian army (comprising 58 infantry battalions, 68 cavalry battalions, and 200 cannon) were under the command of Colonel Aschermann, Poeltenberg, Leiningen, Nagysándor and General Pikéthy. The right flank fought with Schlik's army. Although Pikéthy was successful, the Hungarians could not turn this success to their advantage. At Csém there was a fierce artillery fight with great losses. Nagysándor couldn't win against the Austrian cavalry.
The battle finished at 5 pm with the retreat of the Hungarian troops. The Austrians lost 800 men, the Hungarians 1,500. This battle was the bloodiest fight during the revolution. The battle ended with no decisive victory to either side, even though it was the bloodiest of the entire Revolution.
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...
between the Hungarian and Austrian armies at the Castle of Komárom
Komárom
Komárom is a city in Hungary on the right bank of the Danube in Komárom-Esztergom county.The city of Komárom was formerly a separate suburban village called...
.
The Austrian legions were attacking Komárom from December 1848. Under the command of János Damjanich
János Damjanich
János Damjanich was a Hungarian general of Serb origin. He is considered a national hero in Hungary.He never lost on the battlefield.-Life:...
and György Klapka
György Klapka
--------György Klapka , also known as , or George Klapka, was a Hungarian soldier.Klapka was born at Temesvár, Kingdom of Hungary and entered the Austrian Army in 1838...
Hungarian troops arrived to liberate the city. Four days later the Hungarian legions were successful and beat Austrians.
On 18 June 1849 the 1,000-strong Russian army arrived to help the Austrian army and together they tried to attack and occupy the castle. They attacked the Hungarian army on 20 June at Pered and on 28 June at 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...
, both of which ended with Hungarian defeat.
The second and the third battle at Komárom made another important chapter in the eight-month-long siege. 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...
and György Klapka
György Klapka
--------György Klapka , also known as , or George Klapka, was a Hungarian soldier.Klapka was born at Temesvár, Kingdom of Hungary and entered the Austrian Army in 1838...
, defenders of Komárom Castle, mounted a second attack on the Austrian army on 2 July 1849. The young Hungarian army successfully defended the castle even though the Austrian army outnumbered them. The third battle ended on 11 July when another Austrian attempt to break through the Hungarian defences also failed.
First battle
Görgey and 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...
considered the first battle (or "Komárom-Szőny
Szöny
-History:In the year 97, the Roman legion Legio I Adiutrix campaigned in the area. The town was known as Brigetio to the Romans. The town has one of the earliest records of conjoined twins - Helen and Judith....
" battle) the most important battle of the Revolution. It decided the fate of Hungary. Because of this battle the Austrian army asked the Russian Czar for help. Görgey's army was approximately 24,000 strong, whereas the Austrian army had 30,000 men under the command of Franz Schlik
Franz Schlik
Franz Joseph von Shlik of Bassano and Weisskirchen was an Earl and general in the Austrian Empire's army. He was one of the most successful Austrian generals during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848.In 1808 he enrolled in the Emperor's army. He was engaged in the Napoleonic Wars...
.
The Hungarian army started the attack. Colonel Károly Knezich and his legion of 4,000 men crossed the River Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. Meanwhile Colonel Pál Kiss occupied Újszőny, a district of Komárom
Komárom
Komárom is a city in Hungary on the right bank of the Danube in Komárom-Esztergom county.The city of Komárom was formerly a separate suburban village called...
, the Monastery of Koppány and the right bank of the Danube. Around 9 am Damjanich came out of the castle and with Kiss attacked Schlik. During this time Görgey attacked the Austrian army that was advancing towards Ács
Ács
Ács is a town in Komárom-Esztergom county, Hungary.-External links:* *...
. Klapka moved to Ószőny
Komárom
Komárom is a city in Hungary on the right bank of the Danube in Komárom-Esztergom county.The city of Komárom was formerly a separate suburban village called...
. After a heavy fight the Austrian army dominated the battle, so the Hungarian army had to retreat to Csillagerőd ("Star Fort"). At the same time József Nagysándor
József Nagysándor
József Nagysándor was a honvéd general in the Hungarian Army. He was executed for his part in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and is considered one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad.-Reference:...
attacked Schlik's army from the rear. Wilhelm von Montenuovo attacked Nagysándor and also Damjanich, but without success. Around 1 pm Görgey came into the battle. The Austrians advanced 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...
with the loss of 2,000 men. The Hungarian loss was approximately 800 men.
Second battle
The second battle, sometimes known as the Battle of ÁcsÁcs
Ács is a town in Komárom-Esztergom county, Hungary.-External links:* *...
, started on 2 July. The Austrian Supreme Commander Julius Jacob von Haynau
Julius Jacob von Haynau
Julius Jacob von Haynau was an Austrian general.The illegitimate son of the landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, William I and Rebecca Richter, a Jewish woman, he entered the Austrian army as an infantry officer in 1801 and saw much service in the Napoleonic wars...
and Schlik jointly attacked Komárom at 5 am. Görgey commanded the right flank and the middle, and Klapka commanded the left flank. Károly Leiningen-Westerburg
Károly Leiningen-Westerburg
Károly Leiningen-Westerburg was a honvéd general in the Hungarian Army. He was executed for his part in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and is considered one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad.- Reference :...
fought against the Austrian army at Mocsa
Mocsa
Mocsa is a village in Komárom-Esztergom county, Hungary.-Early history:The village has existed for at least 770 years; it is first mentioned in 1237-1240 under the name of Mocha in the notes of Albeus, dean of Nitra, who had been asked by Béla IV of Hungary to catalogue the territories of the...
, but after the first couple of successes the Hungarian army had to withdraw. Klapka, seeing the bigger Austrian army, withdrew his legion from Szőny to Újszőny.
Leiningen started the fight, but the Austrian army won it. Major Rakovszky and Ernő Poeltenberg
Ernő Poeltenberg
Ernő Poeltenberg was a honvéd general in the Hungarian Army. He was executed for his part in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and is considered one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad.- Reference :...
's attacks were more successful. They occupied the monastery and Herkálypuszta. After this, Klapka gave the order to retake Ószőny. The fight at Ószőny ended with Hungarian success.
Meanwhile at the monastery the Austrians were successful: they occupied the vineyard on the hill and got nearer towards to the Hungarians. After they put their flag as a symbol of victory, they fought with the hiding Hungarians on Elisabeth Island. The Hungarians made them retreat to Ács.
After the attack on the monastery, around 5 pm, Klapka started to attack Ószőny. The Austrians won two attacks, but they lost the third and had to retreat to Mocsa. At the same time Poeltenberg and Görgey attacked the Ausrians and won. At Csém
Csém
-External links:*...
he confronted the Russian army and lost. Görgey had other unsuccessful attacks and he himself was injured. The battle ended around 8 pm. The Austrian army lost 900 men, the Hungarian loss was approximately 1,500 men.
Third battle
The main aim of the third Battle of Komárom's was to break through Haynau's blockade. Klapka took over the command of Görgey's army because of Görgey's injury. The Hungarian Government gave an order to the army to advance towards MarosMaros
Maros is a town in the South Sulawesi province of Indonesia; it is the capital of the Maros Regency. Nearby is a prehistoric cave that has been submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative list.- References :...
. Görgey didn't follow the command because Haynau's army blocked the way south. The government gave a new order and on 11 July the Hungarian army started to attack the Austrians. New Hungarian troops arrived under the command of Ármin Görgey, and from Bátorkeszi under József Nagysándor
József Nagysándor
József Nagysándor was a honvéd general in the Hungarian Army. He was executed for his part in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, and is considered one of the 13 Martyrs of Arad.-Reference:...
.
The Hungarian army (comprising 58 infantry battalions, 68 cavalry battalions, and 200 cannon) were under the command of Colonel Aschermann, Poeltenberg, Leiningen, Nagysándor and General Pikéthy. The right flank fought with Schlik's army. Although Pikéthy was successful, the Hungarians could not turn this success to their advantage. At Csém there was a fierce artillery fight with great losses. Nagysándor couldn't win against the Austrian cavalry.
The battle finished at 5 pm with the retreat of the Hungarian troops. The Austrians lost 800 men, the Hungarians 1,500. This battle was the bloodiest fight during the revolution. The battle ended with no decisive victory to either side, even though it was the bloodiest of the entire Revolution.