Siege of Gvozdansko
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Gvozdansko was a siege of Gvozdansko Castle
in the Kingdom of Croatia
within Habsburg Monarchy
. The battle around Gvozdansko and the siege of the castle lasted from 3 October 1577 to 13 January 1578, between the defending Croatian
forces and the invading Ottoman
army under the command of Ferhat-paša Sokolović
. The battle resulted in an Ottoman victory with heavy losses on the Ottoman side, while all defenders died during the siege.
, the Christian
forces led by King Louis II were defeated by Ottoman
forces led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
. After king Louis was killed in the battle, both the Kingdom of Hungary
and Croatia became disputed territories between the Habsburg and Ottoman empires. Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand I
became king of Hungary and Croatia.On January 1, 1527, the Croatian nobles at Cetin unanimously elected Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria
as their king, and confirmed the succession to him and his heirs. In return for the throne, Archduke Ferdinand, at Parliament on Cetin
, promised to respect the historic rights, freedoms, laws, and customs the Croats had when united with the Hungarian kingdom and to defend Croatia from Ottoman
invasion. (R. W. Seton -Watson:The southern Slav question and the Habsburg Monarchy page 18)
The Turks attempted to conquer the Gvozdansko Castle
on several occasions. Three major attempts were made in 1561 by Malkoč-beg, in 1574 by Ferhad-beg, and in 1576 by Kapidži-pasha.
with 10,000 soldiers organized three major assaults and tried to take Gvozdansko, but was not successful. All of the defending crew of Gvozdansko were tormented by hunger and cold. After days of fierce fighting, the only thirty remaining soldiers held their positions virtually with no ammunition, refusing to surrender.
The siege ended with an Ottoman
victory on 13 January 1578. When the Ottomans entered the castle gates, they met no resistance. They found all the defending forces already dead of wounds, hunger and cold. The Ottoman Ferhat-paša was so moved by their bravery that they were conceded a Christian burial and the local population freed from taxes.
Gvozdansko Castle
Gvozdansko Castle is a castle in Gvozdansko village, between the towns of Dvor and Glina and not far from Zrin Castle, in Sisak-Moslavina county, central Croatia.-History:...
in the Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)
The Kingdom of Croatia was an administrative division that existed between 1527 and 1868 within the Habsburg Monarchy . The Kingdom was a part of the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen, but was subject to direct Imperial Austrian rule for significant periods of time, including its final years...
within Habsburg Monarchy
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...
. The battle around Gvozdansko and the siege of the castle lasted from 3 October 1577 to 13 January 1578, between the defending 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...
forces and the invading 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 the command of Ferhat-paša Sokolović
Ferhat-paša Sokolovic
Ferhat-pasha Sokolović was an Ottoman general and statesman from Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Biography:Ferhat-pasha was born into the famous Bosnian family, which among others, also gave the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha Sokolović. Ferhat Pasha was governor of the sanjak of Klis between 1566 and...
. The battle resulted in an Ottoman victory with heavy losses on the Ottoman side, while all defenders died during the siege.
Background
On August 29, 1526, at the Battle of MohácsBattle of Mohács
The Battle of Mohács was fought on August 29, 1526 near Mohács, Hungary. In the battle, forces of the Kingdom of Hungary led by King Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia were defeated by forces of the Ottoman Empire led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent....
, the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
forces led by King Louis II were defeated by 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...
forces led by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system...
. After king Louis was killed in the battle, both the Kingdom of Hungary
Kingdom of Hungary
The Kingdom of Hungary comprised present-day Hungary, Slovakia and Croatia , Transylvania , Carpatho Ruthenia , Vojvodina , Burgenland , and other smaller territories surrounding present-day Hungary's borders...
and Croatia became disputed territories between the Habsburg and Ottoman empires. Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
became king of Hungary and Croatia.On January 1, 1527, the Croatian nobles at Cetin unanimously elected Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
as their king, and confirmed the succession to him and his heirs. In return for the throne, Archduke Ferdinand, at Parliament on Cetin
Parliament on Cetin
The Parliament on Cetin was a gathering of the Croatian nobility in the town of Cetin caused by a monarchical crisis after the death of their king Louis II and a major defeat of the Kingdom of Hungary at the Battle of Mohács...
, promised to respect the historic rights, freedoms, laws, and customs the Croats had when united with the Hungarian kingdom and to defend Croatia from 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...
invasion. (R. W. Seton -Watson:The southern Slav question and the Habsburg Monarchy page 18)
The Turks attempted to conquer the Gvozdansko Castle
Gvozdansko Castle
Gvozdansko Castle is a castle in Gvozdansko village, between the towns of Dvor and Glina and not far from Zrin Castle, in Sisak-Moslavina county, central Croatia.-History:...
on several occasions. Three major attempts were made in 1561 by Malkoč-beg, in 1574 by Ferhad-beg, and in 1576 by Kapidži-pasha.
Siege
The final siege which was fought from 3 October 1577 to 13 January 1578, was much better prepared. Ferhat-paša SokolovićFerhat-paša Sokolovic
Ferhat-pasha Sokolović was an Ottoman general and statesman from Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Biography:Ferhat-pasha was born into the famous Bosnian family, which among others, also gave the Ottoman Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha Sokolović. Ferhat Pasha was governor of the sanjak of Klis between 1566 and...
with 10,000 soldiers organized three major assaults and tried to take Gvozdansko, but was not successful. All of the defending crew of Gvozdansko were tormented by hunger and cold. After days of fierce fighting, the only thirty remaining soldiers held their positions virtually with no ammunition, refusing to surrender.
The siege ended with an 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...
victory on 13 January 1578. When the Ottomans entered the castle gates, they met no resistance. They found all the defending forces already dead of wounds, hunger and cold. The Ottoman Ferhat-paša was so moved by their bravery that they were conceded a Christian burial and the local population freed from taxes.
External links
- Gvozdansko (www.hrvatski-vojnik.hr)