Siege of Retz
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Retz was a conflict between the Holy Roman Empire
and the Kingdom of Hungary
in 1486. It was part of the Austro-Hungarian War. The Hungarian capture of the town eventually led to the prosperity of its wine industry.
the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus turned to Retz
. He was accompanied by his son John Corvinus. He divided his army into three branches, one composed of mainly Bohemians, the second of Hungarians and the third of the light cavalry of the Raci. He besieged the town with them on the 4th October. The town was heavily forfified and required the engagement of siege weaponry. The garrison accomplished several break-outs, targeting the supply transports for the besiegers' encampment. These skirmishes caused minor casualties but were disturbing enough to make the King decide to draw the encirclement closer to the walls and to order their cannon bombardment. His army also undermined the towers of the town fort. The citizens of Retz realized it was time to surrender. The citizens were granted a royal pardon and Matthias entered the city on the 10th October 1486.
. The architecture in the main square of Retz reflects the accumulated wealth from that time due to the greater growth of Retz's wine industry from Matthias's decision. Matthias stayed in the town several times, receiving envoys from France as well as the historian Antonio Bonfini
, whom - after this visit - he hired as his personal historian.
Matthias Várday, Aladar Várday, Michael Várady and Jannus Várday until his arrival from Autria, whereas the King would judge the case in person.
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...
and 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...
in 1486. It was part of the Austro-Hungarian War. The Hungarian capture of the town eventually led to the prosperity of its wine industry.
The siege
After the fall of LaaLaa an der Thaya
Laa an der Thaya is a town in Lower Austria, Austria near the Czech border. The population in 2001 was 6137.In June 2005, about 250 townspeople and 80 visitors from the US, Israel and Europe with historical family links to former Jewish citizens of Laa an der Thaya assembledwith Mayor Fass to...
the Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus turned to Retz
Retz
Retz is a town with a population of 4,168 in the district of Hollabrunn in Lower Austria, Austria.- Geography :Retz is located in the north western Weinviertel in Lower Austria. The municipality's area covers 45,01 km². 11.83 percent of this area is forested...
. He was accompanied by his son John Corvinus. He divided his army into three branches, one composed of mainly Bohemians, the second of Hungarians and the third of the light cavalry of the Raci. He besieged the town with them on the 4th October. The town was heavily forfified and required the engagement of siege weaponry. The garrison accomplished several break-outs, targeting the supply transports for the besiegers' encampment. These skirmishes caused minor casualties but were disturbing enough to make the King decide to draw the encirclement closer to the walls and to order their cannon bombardment. His army also undermined the towers of the town fort. The citizens of Retz realized it was time to surrender. The citizens were granted a royal pardon and Matthias entered the city on the 10th October 1486.
Aftermath
After the capture of the city he appointed Nikolaus Bethlen the captain of the city who started to build the castle later known as Gatterburg. Matthias Corvinus reissued the town's privileges, which is regarded as the origin of the construction of the multi-storeyed central wine cellars, and on November 11, he ordered ten suburban villages to submit fermented wine to the town. In the same year he also allowed the citizens of Retz to export their wines to Northern Europe and even to the court of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III of RussiaIvan III of Russia
Ivan III Vasilyevich , also known as Ivan the Great, was a Grand Prince of Moscow and "Grand Prince of all Rus"...
. The architecture in the main square of Retz reflects the accumulated wealth from that time due to the greater growth of Retz's wine industry from Matthias's decision. Matthias stayed in the town several times, receiving envoys from France as well as the historian Antonio Bonfini
Antonio Bonfini
Antonio Bonfini was an Italian humanist and poet who spent the last years of his career as a court historian in Hungary with King Matthias Corvinus....
, whom - after this visit - he hired as his personal historian.
Footnotes
The earliest known recording is a letter from Matthias written from the encampment around Retz in October 4 , in which he orders the king's court judges to suspend the ruling over the dispute on Töttös de Báthmonostor-heritage between Auxiliary bishopAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
Matthias Várday, Aladar Várday, Michael Várady and Jannus Várday until his arrival from Autria, whereas the King would judge the case in person.