Posted on 09/11/2003 11:36:17 AM PDT by B-Chan
“The last effort they made to destroy Christendom failed during the last years of the seventeenth century,
only just over two hundred years ago. Vienna was almost taken and only saved by the Christian army
under the command of the King of Poland on a date that ought to be among the most famous in history:
September 11, 1683.”
Hilaire Belloc, The Great Heresies, 1938
“More than 300 years ago, Europe lived in fear of the great Islamic Caliphate, the invincible Ottoman Empire, that ruled a vast portion of the world, and constantly threatened the heartland of Europe with attack, domination, and destruction.
In 1683, in March of that year, yet another huge Islamic army advanced upon the west, 140,000 strong, led by the Turk Grand Vizier Kara Mustapha. The path he chose took him toward the great fortress of Vienna, which he reached on July 14 and promptly laid siege to. Vienna was well prepared to withstand a siege, but by September, after nearly two months of isolation, during which time Turkish bombs shattered some of its walls and led to a partial capture of the city by Mustapha's troops, the situation there had grown dire.
Vienna's capture in the immediate future was a near-certainty, and beyond Vienna, the soft belly of Europe lay wide open. But something had changed. A new man had arrived, a man Europe called the Warrior-King. His name was Jan Sobieski, and he came with an army of 30,000 Poles at his back...”
The tsar forces led by Prince Charles of Lorraine consisted of only 30 000 soldiers. His attempts to resist the Turks were not successful - the invaders’ main forces approached Vienna with no obstacles; moreover great areas of the empire were being destroyed by the Tartars. Austria was not prepared for defence. The tsar relied only on foreign help, especially on Poland. In such a situation, Prince Charles supported the commander of Vienna – Prince Ernst Rüdiger Stahremberg with his infantry units and withdrew beyond the Danube with the remaining forces to defend this part of Austria. On July 7, 1683 Tsar Leopold I with his family escaped from Vienna, on July 14 the Turkish army reached Vienna.
On July 16 the tsar deputy came to Wilanów where King John III Sobieski stayed. The deputy begged the Polish king on behalf of Tsar Leopold I for help for the besieged Vienna. Sobieski, obliged by the treaty signed with the empire on April 1, 1683 began his preparations for the Vienna mission. On July 16, 1683 he sent his orders to Nicholas Sieniawski and Stanislaw Jabłonowski, to assemble all the forces in Cracow. Sobieski came there soon. On August 2, grand hetman Jabłonowski with the army reached Cracow. The king assembled about 27 000 soldiers and almost twice more of camp servants.
The forces set out from Cracow to Silesia, first Nicholas Sieniawski with 20 troops of cavalry and then the king with the main forces led by Jabłonowski. The army was followed by a train of about 8 000 carriages with the food supply for half a year. At the same time, the reinforcements from the German Reich set out to Vienna. In Tarnowskie Góry Sobieski reviewed the army, then the forces went two different ways which joined in Ołomuniec. Sieniawski set out towards Biała, Cieszyn, Ołomuniec, Wischau, Nikolsburg; Jabłonowski towards Gliwice, Racibórz, Opawa, Ołomuniec and from Ołomuniec he followed Sieniawski. In Racibórz Sobieski with three thousand of cavalry separated from the main forces. He intended to march quickly and to join Sieniawski who on August 25 appeared in Nikolsburg, having covered 321-km distance within 12 days. On August 31 the king joined Sieniawski outside Nikolsburg.
On September 3 the session of the great war council took place in Stettelsdorf. Apart from King John III Sobieski and Prince Charles of Lorraine, the commanders of the Polish forces (both hetmans: Stanisław Jabłonowski and Nicholas Sieniawski, the artillery general Martin Kątski), Sass elector John George III, Bavarian elector and the tsar generals participated in that session. John III Sobieski assumed command of the allied forces. The plan of the relief submitted by the Polish king was accepted then. Sobieski’s plan assumed crossing the Danube to the right bank. Having crossed the river, the allied forces were to make a careful reconnaissance of the enemy and then to march along the Danube through the mountain area of the so-called Vienna Forest. The most important role during the march was allocated to the infantry whose task was to prevent the army from being surprised by the enemy. The allied forces were to attack the enemy just after passing through the Vienna Forest and having crushed the enemy – pass on to the pursuit.
After the consultation, Sobieski launched the arranged operation. At night of 4/5 September the Polish and Austrian forces crossed the Danube on the pontoon bridges and reached the right bank of the river near Tulnn. Then German reinforcements, which came from Krems, crossed the river. The allies marched towards Vienna in three columns; the left one consisted of the Austrian forces which moved along the Danube bank; the middle one was made up of the German forces, and the right one – of the Polish ones. On September 11 the allied forces approached the flat area and took positions opposite the Turkish army. Sobieski estimated the terrain, enemy’s strength and location from the top of Kahlenberg.
The relation of forces was following: the army participating in the relief consisted of 70 000 soldiers (about 30 000 cavalry and 40 000 infantry) and 140 cannons, including 27 000 Polish soldiers. The Turkish forces positioned to fight with the allied forces numbered 85 000 soldiers, and in the suburbs - about 25 000 soldiers.
The allied forces took up the positions to the north of the city, at the Vienna Forrest. The Polish forces took the positions of the right flank, reaching from Rosskopf to Dreimarkstein. The forces were arranged in such a way that both hetmans with the cavalry and infantry units took up the side positions, in the middle there were royal hussars and infantry. The central positions of the allied forces' formation situated in the vicinity of Vogelsang took up the troops of the Bavarian elector - Prince Waldeck. The left flank on Kahlenberg consisted of the forces of the Sass elector and Prince Charles of Lorraine. The forward left flank was to launch the attack. Despite the fact that the whole Vienna was surrounded, the Turkish concentrated their main forces to the north of the city, as they were afraid of the attack from that side. The Turkish positions ranged from Schönbrunn to Döbling. The Tartars took up the positions beyond the Wiedenka.
At 6 o’clock in the morning of September 12 the left flank of the allied forces launched the attack. The infantry moved from Kahlenberg towards the Turkish positions on Nussberg. It was followed by the artillery, which halted every now and then to treat the enemy with the cannon’s fire. The infantry halted at the same time awaiting loading of the cannons by the artillery. Sobieski ordered the batteries of the Kahlenberg slopes to support the attack with fire. At 8 o’clock Nussberg was conquered. The left flank forces kept on attacking. At noon Heiligenstadt defended fiercely by the Turkish was conquered. At about noon the units of that flank approached Vienna. To prevent their entering the city, the majority of the Turkish forces gathered there, preparing for counter-attack.
Sobieski decided to attack the Turkish left flank from Severing and Dornbach. He led the Polish infantry units reinforced by artillery out of the woods. The units were commanded by General Kątski. They were followed by the hussar troops - the major strike forces of the Polish army. The Polish had a very difficult task to fulfil. The infantry attacked through a range of lower hills separating the Polish formation from the Vienna Plain. The Turkish commander - Kara Mustafa envisaging imminent threat directed the best infantry regiments supported by the Turkish artillery fire against them. The fierce, arduous fight for every hill, vineyard and grove began. The right flank of the allied forces from Vogelsang and the forces deployed in the centre attacked simultaneously. The Turks managed to suppress the attack of the German infantry in the centre but Sobieski supported the Germans with his own infantry and broke the enemy’s resistance. The allied forces were moving forward.
At about 5 o’clock in the afternoon the Turkish forces were dislodged to the plain. To discover weather the area was not too difficult for the cavalry, Sobieski directed a hussar troop to attack the enemy. This troop caused confusion in the Turkish arrays and moved back to the initial position. Sobieski deduced at 6 o’clock that it was a decisive time of the battle and ordered the hussar and armoured troops to form for attack. In the meantime, Kara Mustafa gathered 75% of his forces against the Poles and supported the main Turkish camp on Schmelz with the right flank units. The Turkish cavalry arranged in three lines took the positions to the north-west of the camp. The Turks assembled a great number of cannons there.
Sobieski led 20 000 cavalry to attack which was to determine the battle result and the Vienna fate. It was the most famous charge of the Polish hussars. They gathered greater and greater momentum attacking on the sloping terrain. The cavalry of the left flank and the allied forces centre followed them. During the attack the Turkish artillery opened fire and the Turkish heavy cavalry moved forward to encounter the galloping hussars. The Turkish cavalry fell in a row during the head-on clash; then the hussars attacked the next arrays. The Turks were seized with fear and panic. A great number of Kara Mustafa cavalry fell dead, the rest escaped to save their lives. They were followed by the infantry. Kara Mustafa hardly saved his neck. The great Turkish army was completely defeated. The infantry left in the suburbs of the city tried to defend themselves but the forces of Charles of Lorraine dislodged them. Sobieski took over the Turkish camp – Vienna was free. “It was a great battle, lasting from the noon till the sunset, it reminded the Last Judgement - wrote the Turkish chronicler. Finally, shortly before the dusk, the Muslim army had lacked the strength to fight, thus it was defeated and escaped. (…)”.
Although the Vienna battle ended in a great attack of the Polish hussars, infantry and artillery units contributed mainly to the victory over the Turks. Moreover, the involvement of engineers in building pontoon bridges before the battle should be mentioned. The Vienna battle is an interesting example of the allied forces’ skilful adaptation of the operations to the terrain. The infantry supported by the artillery was especially effective in the first phase. When the enemy had been dislodged to the plains, cavalry could have been used. King John III Sobieski proved to be a very talented commander. He directed the course of the battle so skilfully that the major Turkish forces were conquered and the siege of Vienna was relieved.
A Letter From [Jan III Sobieski]
the King of Poland to His Queen.
In Which is Incerted Many Particulars Relating to
the Victories Obtained Against the Turkst
London,1683
The Immortal God, (to whom Honour and Glory be Ascribed for Ever) has Blest us with so Signal a Victory, as scarce the Memory of Man can Equal: The Enemy was not only content to Raise the Siege of Vienna, and Leave us Masters of the Field; But also of all their Cannon, and Tents, with Inestimable Treasure, and clim'd over Mountains of Carcasses made by their own Body's in the Flight. My Eyes were never Blest before with so delightful a Prospect as to see my Soldiers follow here a great Drove of their Sheep and Oxen, and there a much greater Herd of Turkish Captives; Nor my Ear's e're Charm'd with so pleasing Musick, as the Howlings and Dying Groans of these Miserable Wretches: So great was their Hast, that the Prime Visier almost alone and forsaken of all, was forc't without the Ceremony of his Turbant, to take his Flight; But yet he left me Heir to his Tent and Riches whith were shewn me by a Renegado of his own Retinue.
I have Presented the Turkish Standard to His Holyness, who was Instrumental no less by His Money, than His Prayers, to their Overthrow. The Prime Vizor's Horse with all his Trappings, I reserv'd for my self; And tho he was so Fortunate in his Flight to Escape us, yet his Caymecam, or Lieutenant-General, with some of the most Considerable Bassa's [Pashas] fell by our Swords; But the approaching Night put a Stop to our Pursuit, and their Slaughter. Those Janizaries which were left behind in the Mines and Trenches, we thought not worth the dulling of our Swords, therefore we made but one Funeral Pile for 'em all, and Burnt 'em.
In the Action there were about Thirty Thousand Turks kill'd; besides Tartars, and One Hundred Thousand Tents taken. Our Souldiers, and the Burghers of Vienna, were Two whole Nights, and One Day, in Rifling their Tents and Body's, and I believe a Week would scarce suffice to finish it.
The Rarities which were found in the Prime Vizor's Tent, were no less Numerous than Strange and Surprising, as very curious Parrots, and some Birds of Paradise, with all his Banios, and Fountains, and some Ostriches, which he Chose rather to Kill, than let 'em fall Alive into our Hands; Nay his Dispair and Jealousy transported him so far, as to Destroy his very Women for the same Reason.
The whole Army Attributes the Glory of this Victory to God, and Us, and all the Princes of the Empire, with the Great Officers, as the Dukes of Bavaria and Lorrain, Prince Waldek, etc. were so far transported with my Valour and Success, that their Thanks and Praises were more Numerous, than was their Fears before; and Count Staremberg the Governour, Saluted me with the Title of his Mighty Deliverer. The Common People in my going to and from the Churches, pay'd their Veneration even to my very Garments, and made their Cry's and Acclamations reach the Sky, of Long Live the King of Poland.
In the battle we Lost some of our Friends, as Prince Halicki, and the Treasurer of our Household. The Reverend Marinus Daviano, heapt on me his Pray'rs and Blessings, and told me he saw a White Dove fluttering o're the Army, which he look'd upon as an happy Augure of our Victory.
We are now on our March towards Hungary; taking the Advantage of their Distraction, to Defeat the Remainder of their scatter'd Troops, and Surprize Gran or Newheufell. I have all the Princes of the Empire my Companions in this Enterprise, who tell me they are ready to follow such a Leader not only into Hungary, but to the End of the World.
The Prime Vizor being unable to put a Stop to our Pursuit, told his Eldest Son Mahomet Han, That he must now bid Adieu to all his Greatness, and never expect to be in Safety, whilst their Lye's one Stone upon another in the Walls of Vienna, but withal bid him hasten to the Grand Seignor and Demand a Speedy Succour, to whom his Son Reply'd, That he knew him too well for that, and there was nothing for 'em now to Rely on but their Flight.
I am just now going to take Horse, and all my way for Two Hungarian Miles together, are so strew'd with the Carcasses of Men, Horses, and Camels, that the Stench of 'em would be insupportable to any but a Soldier.
I have sent several Dispatches to Forein Princes to give Notice of this Action, but the King of France was forgotten.
I Rejoice to see our Son Alexander of so Clear and Undanted a Courage who always stuck to me in my most iminent Dangers: and made the first onset on a Body of Turkish Spahn, with that Courage that he put 'em soon to flight, and Receiv'd the Applauses of the whole Army. He has Contracted a very Intimate Friendship with the young Duke of Bavaria with whom he equally devided the spoyl, This Prince has been very Assiduous in his Services to me; therefore I have presented him three of my Horses, the Bassa of Egypt's Tent and Standard, and ten Pieces of Cannon. To his Sister the Dauphiness, a Locket of Diamonds. Yet there Remains such heaps of their Colours and Symeters in our possession as are not to be numbred.
All my Countrey men March't with the same Bravery to the Relief of Vienna, as the Souldiers of Godfrey of Bullein did to the Holy Land, and the miraculous Cross that you presented me with (which was his companion in that Expedition) I Believe Contributed no less to our Victory.
Thanks be to Heaven, now the Half-Moon Triumphs no longer o're the Cross, And 'twas thrown down from St. Stephen's Steeple in Vienna (whom it had o'retopt so long) immediately on the Defeat: Neither have the Turks any occasion to upbraid us with their Blasphemous Mahometan Proverb. Ye Christians, where is Your God?
VIVE POLOGNE
VIVAT SOBIESKI
DEUS VULT
x
Carolyn
I still think al Qaeda's choice of date was dictated by the Seige of Vienna. I put more credence in elevated terror alerts for period including notable Muslim defeats or victories than in those corresponding to American holidays or commemorations.
The attack on the USS Cole was five days after the anniversary of the Battle of Lepanto. Was it perhaps on the anniversary when calculated by the Muslim lunar calendar? Was Sept 11, 2001 exactly the anniversary on the Muslim lunar calendar of Sept. 12, 1683?
11th, 12th...the army was massing there on the 11th for sure.
The most important point is that EUrope is STILL afraid of the Islamic Caliphate. Only instead of fighting these terrorists today, they appease them and make them stronger.
LOL...yep. If not for the bakers of Vienna, history would probably have been much different and we'd already be slaves of the Khalifah.
Happy me, Happy Christendom!
Glory to God in the Highest.
Imagine if the Turkoids had won??
Shame I didn't remember them this morning...what better breakfast on the anniversary of 9/11/01 (and 9/11/1683)?
Hm, what are we to make of this?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.