Siege of Jajce
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Jajce was a siege in 1463 and was part of the Ottoman–Hungarian Wars. The Hungarian victory meant the maintenance of Christiandom in Bosnia and - with the repulse of Ottoman forces - the protection of Hungarian territories for the 15th century.
and King Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia was accepted as a vassal to her. The Bosnian King refused to pay tribute to the Porte
thereafter. As a consequence both Ottoman and Christian sides began the war preparations.
Sultan Mehmed II
gathered an army of 150,000 soldiers in Adrianopolis
and departed for the Lower Danube area in April 1463. As a part of a diversion attack he commanded Ali Bey Mihaloğlu
to invade Southern Hungary. The bey crossed to Syrmia
, but was pushed back by Andrew Pongrácz high cup-bearer
of Hungary. He suddenly made a flanking move to the heart of Hungary until he reached Temesvár, where he ran into John Pongrácz Voivode of Transylvania and was defeated in a fierce battle. Meanwhile Mehmet II advanced to Travnik
, which he besieged. Then moved to the capital city Bobovac
that fell within three days. Stephen Tomašević was advised to entrench himself in the high mountains although he chose to withdraw to Jajce
and later to Ključ
and burnt the bridges of the roads along.
Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey
pursued his trail taking Jajce without a fight and pushed to Ključ through the Sava river and the surrounding mountains despite the marshy ground and the general inaccessibility to the town. Seeing himself in a dead-end situation Tomašević set his wife and mother to a journey through Raguse to Hungary to find refuge. He fortified himself in Ključ fortress. After their arrival the Ottomans set fire around the city thus forcing the inhabitants to surrender in despair. Mahmud Pasha Angelović granted the Bosnian King. He swore an oath to the sultan and capitulated when he was promised safe retreat in return. He had to spread this agreement to the remaining fort captains in 8 days and as a result 70 places and one million florins were handed to the Porte. Discontent with this agreement Mehmet rebuke Mahmud and instructed him to transport the Bosnian King to his court. Stephen Tomašević was double crossed and despite his oath to the Sultan the last ruler of Bosnia was beheaded at Carevo Polje
near Jajce. The sultan divided his expeditionary army into three led by him, Ömer Bey and Mahmud Pasha respetively and raided the surrounding countries as well as completed the conquest of Bosnia. Ömer Bey surged in the direction of the Kingdom of Croatia
, while Mehmet moved towards the Duchy of Saint Sava. In Croatia Ömer Bey confronted and slew Paulus de Speranchich Ban of Croatia
and his entourage of 800 men. With the help of the Bosnian Patarenes refugees Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Duke of Sava was able to withstand the intrusion of Mehmet for a time. After the fall of Blagaj
in 1466 and Mostar
in 1468 Kosaca had no other choice but to pay tribute to him and allow him to take his son Stjepan Hercegović as a hostage.
King Matthias Corvinus sent a couple thousand ecclesiastic army to the Lower Sava Valley and the Black Army of Hungary
led by John Pongrácz de Dengeleg and supplemented by the Szeklers to the village of Keve
. He also envoyed a garrison to his Adriatic subject, the Republic of Ragusa
as a preventive measure. He also commissioned ambassadors to the Signoria of Venice
and Pope Pius II
. Both of them promised financial aid, the Holy See
granted a sum sufficient for the military service payment of 1000 cavalry for an year. Venice
offered 20,000 ducats for the Anti-Ottoman defense. Matthias ordered all dispensable transport points to sail to the enlist point at Petrovaradin
. Matthias sought a long-term alliance with Venice
. In September 12 just before the launch of the attack Matthias and Venetian orator John Emo in the camp in Petrovaradin. The terms were:
The Duchy of Saint Sava hesitated between the Ottomans, Venice and Hungary to be subjugated to. In October they came to the decision to offer themselves to Venice. Already an ally to Hungary the Doge of Venice
Cristoforo Moro
gently replied that Hungary had already made the necessary steps to relieve Bosnia, her armies entered Bosnia and besieged Jajce as well as the other fortresses. Following the events Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
lended himself to Matthias who accepted his service. In exchange Vladislav Hercegović was promoted a Hungarian banner lord and reassured the estates of Stjepan. This ancillary alliance was signed on 6 December.
liberating each city connected. The population welcomed the troops and even joined them as the Franciscan clergy maintained a religious unrest throughout Bosnia. He appointed John Pongrácz de Dengeleg as the supplies overseer and Provost Gaspar Bak of Berend as the ammunition/siege engines operator. The third contingent was recruited in Croatia thus it arrived from West from the direction of Bihać
and commanded by Martin Frangepan, while the Saint-Savan reinforcements blocked Jajce the from the South (Prozor, Donji Vakuf
) in November Matthias reached the town in a 4-5 four days march, which is considered quite a fast progress regarding the mediaval infrastructure conditions. Upon the recent success among the Bosnian population Matthias anticipated local support and so he instantly attacked the town of Jajca in 5–6 October that was subdued for the first try. After a short hand-to-hand combat the Ottoman garrison locked itself in the Jajce Fortress.
The siege possibly started at the confluence of Pliva
-Vrbas and the siege machines were installed in the half-circle of Carevo Polje
-Borci
-Baščeluci
. Though the contemporary cannons could cause little damage to the walls as their fire range varied from 300 to 900 meters, which was also the range covered by the archery of the defenders.
The King exhorted his troops by giving out letters of land donation to those who emerged in battle. In order to officially induct these manors he set up his own chancellery in the camp to administrate them. On the day of the planned general offensive the captains of the fortress called for surrender talks, which led to an agreement the same day. Those who wanted to leave could do so without their slaves the rest was free to join the Black Army
. Around 400 soldiers chose to be drafted into the Hungarian army including the head captain Yusuf Bey.
to the Frangepans for their merits in the siege. Stephen Gerendi saved the King's life when he shot a waylaying Turk during the siege and thus was rewarded the right to bear personal coat of arms. Vladislav Hercegović was awarded the Župa
s of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje and Prozor-Rama
. The Venetian-Ottoman conflict escalated into the Ottoman–Venetian War
.
Background
Beginning from the diet of Buda of 1462 some Bosnian-Hungarian borderline fortresses were already guarded by the Kingdom of HungaryKingdom 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 King Stephen Tomašević of Bosnia was accepted as a vassal to her. The Bosnian King refused to pay tribute to the Porte
Porte
The Sublime Porte, also Ottoman Porte or High Porte , is a synecdoche for the central government of the Ottoman Empire, by reference to the High Gate of the Divan of the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul.The particular term was used in the context of diplomacy by Western states, as their diplomats were...
thereafter. As a consequence both Ottoman and Christian sides began the war preparations.
Sultan Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
gathered an army of 150,000 soldiers in Adrianopolis
Adrianópolis
Adrianópolis is a town and municipality in the state of Paraná in the Southern Region of Brazil.-References:...
and departed for the Lower Danube area in April 1463. As a part of a diversion attack he commanded Ali Bey Mihaloğlu
Ali Bey Mihaloğlu
Ali Bey Mihaloğlu or Gazı Alauddin Ali Bey Mihaloğlu, was an Ottoman military commander in 15th century and the first sanjakbey of the Sanjak of Smederevo. He was one of the descendants of Köse Mihal, a Byzantine governor of Chirmenkia and battle companion of Osman Gazi...
to invade Southern Hungary. The bey crossed to Syrmia
Syrmia
Syrmia is a fertile region of the Pannonian Plain in Europe, between the Danube and Sava rivers. It is divided between Serbia in the east and Croatia in the west....
, but was pushed back by Andrew Pongrácz high cup-bearer
Cup-bearer
A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold this position. He must guard against poison in the king's cup, and...
of Hungary. He suddenly made a flanking move to the heart of Hungary until he reached Temesvár, where he ran into John Pongrácz Voivode of Transylvania and was defeated in a fierce battle. Meanwhile Mehmet II advanced to Travnik
Travnik
Travnik is a city and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, 90 km west of Sarajevo. It is the capital of the Central Bosnia Canton, and is located in the Travnik Municipality. Travnik today has some 27,000 residents, with a metro population that is probably close to 70,000 people...
, which he besieged. Then moved to the capital city Bobovac
Bobovac
Bobovac is a fortified city of medieval Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located near today's Vareš.The city was built during the reign of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia, and was first mentioned in a document dating from 1349...
that fell within three days. Stephen Tomašević was advised to entrench himself in the high mountains although he chose to withdraw to Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
and later to Ključ
Kljuc
Ključ is a town and municipality by the same name in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the Una-Sana Canton. The name of the town and the municipality translates to "Key" in Bosnian....
and burnt the bridges of the roads along.
Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey
Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey
Turahanoğlu Ömer Bey was an Ottoman general and governor. The son of the famed Turahan Bey, he was active chiefly in southern Greece: he fought in the Morea against both the Byzantines in the 1440s and 1450s and against the Venetians in the 1460s, while in 1456, he conquered the Latin Duchy of...
pursued his trail taking Jajce without a fight and pushed to Ključ through the Sava river and the surrounding mountains despite the marshy ground and the general inaccessibility to the town. Seeing himself in a dead-end situation Tomašević set his wife and mother to a journey through Raguse to Hungary to find refuge. He fortified himself in Ključ fortress. After their arrival the Ottomans set fire around the city thus forcing the inhabitants to surrender in despair. Mahmud Pasha Angelović granted the Bosnian King. He swore an oath to the sultan and capitulated when he was promised safe retreat in return. He had to spread this agreement to the remaining fort captains in 8 days and as a result 70 places and one million florins were handed to the Porte. Discontent with this agreement Mehmet rebuke Mahmud and instructed him to transport the Bosnian King to his court. Stephen Tomašević was double crossed and despite his oath to the Sultan the last ruler of Bosnia was beheaded at Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje is a village in the municipality of Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the place where, in 1463, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered the execution of the last King of Bosnia, Stephen Tomašević.-References:...
near Jajce. The sultan divided his expeditionary army into three led by him, Ömer Bey and Mahmud Pasha respetively and raided the surrounding countries as well as completed the conquest of Bosnia. Ömer Bey surged in the direction of the Kingdom of Croatia
Kingdom of Croatia (medieval)
The Kingdom of Croatia , also known as the Kingdom of the Croats , was a medieval kingdom covering most of what is today Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Balkans.Established in 925, it ruled as a sovereign state for almost two centuries...
, while Mehmet moved towards the Duchy of Saint Sava. In Croatia Ömer Bey confronted and slew Paulus de Speranchich Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia
Ban of Croatia was the title of local rulers and after 1102 viceroys of Croatia. From earliest periods of Croatian state, some provinces were ruled by Bans as a rulers representative and supreme military commander. In the 18th century, Croatian bans eventually become chief government officials in...
and his entourage of 800 men. With the help of the Bosnian Patarenes refugees Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
Duke of Sava was able to withstand the intrusion of Mehmet for a time. After the fall of Blagaj
Blagaj
Blagaj is a village-town in the south-eastern region of the Mostar basin, in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It stands at the edge of Bišće plain and is one of the most valuable mixed urban and rural structures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, distinguished from other similar...
in 1466 and Mostar
Mostar
Mostar is a city and municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the largest and one of the most important cities in the Herzegovina region and the center of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton of the Federation. Mostar is situated on the Neretva river and is the fifth-largest city in the country...
in 1468 Kosaca had no other choice but to pay tribute to him and allow him to take his son Stjepan Hercegović as a hostage.
Premise
Mehmet II chose not to engage in winter operations and retreated bringing 100,000 prisoners and leaving Mimert (Minnet) Bey in charge in Bosnia. He also didn't have other choice as their horses were exhausted and the supply lines were inefficient.King Matthias Corvinus sent a couple thousand ecclesiastic army to the Lower Sava Valley and the Black Army of Hungary
Black Army of Hungary
The Black Army , "Black Legion" or "Regiment"—possibly named after their black armor panoply, see below) is, in historiography, the common name given to the military forces serving under the reign of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary...
led by John Pongrácz de Dengeleg and supplemented by the Szeklers to the village of Keve
Kévé
Kévé is a town with 12,000 residents in southwest Togo.Between 1928 and 1930, the chief of Keve was arrested by French officials for resisting the French regime. As of 1933, Aleke was chief of the town....
. He also envoyed a garrison to his Adriatic subject, the Republic of Ragusa
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
as a preventive measure. He also commissioned ambassadors to the Signoria of Venice
Signoria of Venice
The Signoria of Venice was the supreme body of government of the Republic of Venice. The original Greek name of the family was Spandounes...
and Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius II, born Enea Silvio Piccolomini was Pope from August 19, 1458 until his death in 1464. Pius II was born at Corsignano in the Sienese territory of a noble but decayed family...
. Both of them promised financial aid, the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
granted a sum sufficient for the military service payment of 1000 cavalry for an year. Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
offered 20,000 ducats for the Anti-Ottoman defense. Matthias ordered all dispensable transport points to sail to the enlist point at Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin
Petrovaradin , is part of the agglomeration of Novi Sad in Serbia...
. Matthias sought a long-term alliance with Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. In September 12 just before the launch of the attack Matthias and Venetian orator John Emo in the camp in Petrovaradin. The terms were:
- They form a mutual protective and offensive alliance against the turks
- They don't conclude peace unbeknownst to the other
- The Republic of VeniceRepublic of VeniceThe Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
provides 40 galleys and puts all of her DalmatianDalmatianDalmatian may refer to:* Dalmatia, a region mainly in the southern part of modern Croatia* Dalmatae, an ancient people from the region* Dalmatian language, an extinct Romance language* Dalmatian , a breed of dog...
and PeloponnesePeloponneseThe Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
captains on a war footing - The parties involved won't violate each other's territorial integrity
The Duchy of Saint Sava hesitated between the Ottomans, Venice and Hungary to be subjugated to. In October they came to the decision to offer themselves to Venice. Already an ally to Hungary the Doge of Venice
Doge of Venice
The Doge of Venice , often mistranslated Duke was the chief magistrate and leader of the Most Serene Republic of Venice for over a thousand years. Doges of Venice were elected for life by the city-state's aristocracy. Commonly the person selected as Doge was the shrewdest elder in the city...
Cristoforo Moro
Cristoforo Moro
Christoforo Moro was the 67th Doge of Venice. He reigned from 1462 to 1471.-Family:The Moro family settled in Venice in the mid-12th century when Stephanus Maurus, a...
gently replied that Hungary had already made the necessary steps to relieve Bosnia, her armies entered Bosnia and besieged Jajce as well as the other fortresses. Following the events Stjepan Vukčić Kosača
Stjepan Vukcic Kosaca
Stjepan Vukčić Kosača was a Herzegovina nobleman. He was a member of the House of Kosača, a Grand Duke of Herzegovina, Lord of Zahumlje and Primorje and also Herzog of Serbian Saint Sava...
lended himself to Matthias who accepted his service. In exchange Vladislav Hercegović was promoted a Hungarian banner lord and reassured the estates of Stjepan. This ancillary alliance was signed on 6 December.
The siege
Matthias branched off his army into two divisions. The first led by Emerich Zápolya was about to approach Jajce from the North along the Vrbas river, while the other led by the King himself carried the siege weapons and chose the network of paved roads (kaldrma) from the North-West to KljučKljuc
Ključ is a town and municipality by the same name in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the Una-Sana Canton. The name of the town and the municipality translates to "Key" in Bosnian....
liberating each city connected. The population welcomed the troops and even joined them as the Franciscan clergy maintained a religious unrest throughout Bosnia. He appointed John Pongrácz de Dengeleg as the supplies overseer and Provost Gaspar Bak of Berend as the ammunition/siege engines operator. The third contingent was recruited in Croatia thus it arrived from West from the direction of Bihać
Bihac
Bihać is a city and municipality on the river Una in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosanska Krajina region. Bihać is located in the Una-Sana Canton in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-History:...
and commanded by Martin Frangepan, while the Saint-Savan reinforcements blocked Jajce the from the South (Prozor, Donji Vakuf
Donji Vakuf
Donji Vakuf is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina, located between Jajce, Bugojno and Travnik. It is under the administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.-Settlements:• Babin Potok• Babino Selo...
) in November Matthias reached the town in a 4-5 four days march, which is considered quite a fast progress regarding the mediaval infrastructure conditions. Upon the recent success among the Bosnian population Matthias anticipated local support and so he instantly attacked the town of Jajca in 5–6 October that was subdued for the first try. After a short hand-to-hand combat the Ottoman garrison locked itself in the Jajce Fortress.
The siege possibly started at the confluence of Pliva
Pliva
Pliva d.d. is a Croatian pharmaceutical company, based in Zagreb, Croatia. One of the world's largest producers of generic Adderall, it has seen drastic increases in revenue with an increasing number of patients being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder . It is the largest pharmaceutical...
-Vrbas and the siege machines were installed in the half-circle of Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje
Carevo Polje is a village in the municipality of Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the place where, in 1463, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror ordered the execution of the last King of Bosnia, Stephen Tomašević.-References:...
-Borci
Borci (Jajce)
Borci is a village in the municipality of Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina....
-Baščeluci
Bašceluci
Baščeluci is a settlement near the Serbian city of Loznica in the Mačva District. It has a population of 980....
. Though the contemporary cannons could cause little damage to the walls as their fire range varied from 300 to 900 meters, which was also the range covered by the archery of the defenders.
The King exhorted his troops by giving out letters of land donation to those who emerged in battle. In order to officially induct these manors he set up his own chancellery in the camp to administrate them. On the day of the planned general offensive the captains of the fortress called for surrender talks, which led to an agreement the same day. Those who wanted to leave could do so without their slaves the rest was free to join the Black Army
Black Army of Hungary
The Black Army , "Black Legion" or "Regiment"—possibly named after their black armor panoply, see below) is, in historiography, the common name given to the military forces serving under the reign of King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary...
. Around 400 soldiers chose to be drafted into the Hungarian army including the head captain Yusuf Bey.
Aftermath
The smaller forts in the region were quickly recovered and were reorganized as a part of the Hungarian Banate of Jajce. He appointed John Székely of Hídvég as the new captain and Emerich Zápolya as the new governor of Bosnia. He gifted the fortress of MedvedgradMedvedgrad
Medvedgrad is a medieval fortified town located on the south slopes of Medvednica mountain, approximately halfway from the Croatian capital Zagreb to the mountain top Sljeme. For defensive purposes it was built on a hill, Mali Plazur, that is a spur of the main ridge of the mountain that overlooks...
to the Frangepans for their merits in the siege. Stephen Gerendi saved the King's life when he shot a waylaying Turk during the siege and thus was rewarded the right to bear personal coat of arms. Vladislav Hercegović was awarded the Župa
Župa
A Župa is a Slavic term, used historically among the Southern and Western branches of the Slavs, originally denoting various territorial and other sub-units, usually a small administrative division, especially a gathering of several villages...
s of Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje and Prozor-Rama
Prozor-Rama
Prozor-Rama is a municipality in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The town of Prozor is located in the northern part of the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton...
. The Venetian-Ottoman conflict escalated into the Ottoman–Venetian War
Ottoman–Venetian War (1463–1479)
The First Ottoman–Venetian War was fought between the Republic of Venice and her allies and the Ottoman Empire from 1463 to 1479. Fought shortly after the capture of Constantinople and the remnants of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottomans, it resulted in the loss of several Venetian holdings in...
.