Siege of Buda (1541)

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The Siege of Buda, which lasted from 4 May to 21 August 1541, resulted in the capture of the city of Buda by Suleiman the Magnificent's Ottoman army, as he invaded central Hungary. The battle was part of the Little War in Hungary.

Siege

In the first phase, an army composed of troops from Austria, German Principalities, Bohemia and Habsburg Hungary, under command of general Wilhelm von Roggendorf, besieged the successors of the Ottoman vassal John I of Hungary. After dying in 1540, his son John, who was by then a minor, was crowned king under the regency of his mother Isabella Jagiellon and bishop George Martinuzzi. This was accepted by Suleiman under the condition that the Hungarians would continue to pay tribute to the Sultan. The new King was however not accepted by the Habsburgs. Ferdinand I sent an army of 50,000 soldiers commanded by Wilhelm von Roggendorf. This army besieged Buda in Summer 1541. The siege was badly managed and several attacks failed with very high number of casualties on the Habsburg side.

Battle

Sultan Suleiman took personal command of the Ottoman relief army which included 6,362 Janissaries.[1] On 21 August, the Ottoman relief army reached Buda and engaged in battle with Roggendorf's army. The Habsburg army was completely defeated and 7,000 men were slaughtered or drowned in the river. Roggendorf was also wounded in the battle and died 2 days after of his injuries.

The Ottomans then occupied the city, which in its turn was celebrating the liberation, with a trick and took the infant King John II as an hostage.

This siege of Buda was a very important Ottoman victory against Austrian Archduke Ferdinand.[2] This battle allowed the occupation of central Hungary by the Ottomans for around 150 years, and was therefore of an importance comparable to that of the Battle of Mohács in 1526.[2]

The Habsburg army lost in all 16,000 men.

Aftermath

Charles V learned about the defeat of his brother Ferdinand upon his arrival in Genoa on 8 September 1541. Thirsty for revenge, he departed for an expedition against Algiers, which also ended in a sound defeat for the Habsburgs.[3]

Siege of Buda (1541).
Buda under Ottoman rule in 1542. Engraving by Enea Vico.

Ferdinand would attempt to recover the cities of Buda and Pest in 1542, but he was repulsed again by the Ottomans.

Notes

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  2. 2.0 2.1 Garnier, p.200
  3. Garnier, p.201

Bibliography

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