At last, the walls fell. After two months of siege by the Ottoman army, the walls of Vienna collapsed. Through the gaps in the fallen walls, the Ottoman forces poured in like a tidal wave. The defenders of Vienna fought desperately, preparing for death. It seemed only a matter of time before Vienna would fall. If this place were captured, the Ottoman army would advance relentlessly into Western Europe. However, they appeared in the rear of the Ottoman forces. The winged warriors, the Winged Hussars.
1. Union of the Crowns
The Habsburg family expanded its territories through strategic marriages over generations, thus acquiring a vast empire. This vast land was known as the Habsburg Empire, comprising Austria, Bohemia, Hungary, and Croatia. However, despite being called the Habsburg Empire, these territories were not a unified, centralized state. The inhabitants of these territories had distinct community identities, and each had its own monarchy. It was simply that the Habsburg family held the thrones of these countries. In other words, it was a union of different kingdoms under a single monarch, known as the Union of the Eastern Kingdoms. To draw a modern comparison, it was like someone holding the presidency of several companies—each company still remained separate, despite being managed by one person.
2. The Hungarian Rebellion
Meanwhile, the Ottoman Empire had been in decline since the reign of Suleiman I. During this time, a rebellion broke out in Hungary, which was under Habsburg rule, and the rebel forces sought help from the Ottoman Empire. At the time, the de facto ruler of the Ottoman Empire was the vizier Kara Mustafa. He saw an opportunity to solidify his power, restore order within the empire, and revive its fortunes. Upon persuading Sultan Mehmed IV, a belligerent leader, the Ottoman Empire raised a massive army. Thus, the Ottomans sent an army of 150,000 to Vienna. Vienna, the capital of Austria, was the heart of the Habsburg Empire, and this marked the beginning of the Second Battle of Vienna.
3. The Siege of Vienna
When the Ottoman army arrived at Vienna, they chose to besiege the city rather than assault it directly, taking a lesson from the failed siege during the reign of Suleiman I. They aimed to starve Vienna into submission. The Ottoman forces had meticulously prepared for the siege, bringing an enormous amount of manpower and supplies. However, maintaining such a force placed a tremendous strain on the Ottoman treasury, and the success of the campaign was crucial. Vienna, on the other hand, was in a dire situation. The defenders numbered only around 16,000, far fewer than the Ottoman army. Moreover, the Habsburg Empire's political structure made it difficult to concentrate the full power of the empire in one location. If Vienna fell, it could lead to the collapse of the empire. As a result, Emperor Leopold I of the Habsburgs declared Vienna's absolute defense and made thorough preparations for war. The city endured a two-month siege, with citizens suffering from hunger and lack of supplies. Yet, they held onto hope, desperately resisting and waiting for help.
4. The Crumbling Walls
At the same time, a Holy League was formed in Europe to rescue Vienna. About 74,000 soldiers from the Holy Roman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth gathered. As they approached Vienna, the Ottomans became desperate and launched a final attack. They began shelling the city and digging tunnels to plant explosives. As a result, the once-impenetrable walls of Vienna began to crumble. The Ottoman forces surged through the gaps in the walls, and it seemed like Vienna's fall was inevitable. At that moment, the Polish-Lithuanian army arrived to relieve the city. And the famous Polish-Lithuanian Winged Hussars charged into the Ottoman forces.
5. The Winged Hussars
The Winged Hussars, heavy cavalry with winged adornments on their backs, charged at the Ottoman army with lances extended, each over five meters long. The Ottoman forces, focused on capturing Vienna, were caught off guard and failed to mount an effective defense. The Ottoman army began to crumble under the onslaught of the Winged Hussars. The Ottomans, suffering massive losses, were forced to retreat. The European forces did not let them go easily. They relentlessly pursued the retreating Ottomans, capturing significant territories from the Ottoman Empire in the process.
6. The Battle's Outcome
The Ottoman Empire had expended enormous resources, yet failed to capture Vienna. As a result, the empire's prestige plummeted. The once-feared Ottoman Empire was no longer the dominant power in Europe. This battle marked the beginning of a long decline for the Ottoman Empire. Following the defeat, Sultan Mehmed IV and Vizier Kara Mustafa were both disgraced. Sultan Mehmed IV was deposed, and Kara Mustafa was executed.
7. The Rise of Coffee
Meanwhile, the battle contributed to the spread of coffee in Europe. Before this, coffee had been a luxury item, even for the nobility. However, after the European forces captured Ottoman soldiers and prisoners, they obtained large quantities of coffee beans as spoils of war. At the time, coffee was a rare indulgence in Europe, but for the Ottomans, it was a regular supply. The citizens of Vienna, now in possession of large quantities of coffee beans, soon became enamored with the drink, and coffee began to spread throughout Europe.
8. The Creation of the Croissant
Additionally, the croissant was invented during this time. During the siege of Vienna, the Ottomans dug tunnels under the city, and a baker in Vienna, who heard the sounds of digging, hurriedly alerted the defenders. The defenders rushed to the site and repelled the Ottomans. In recognition of the baker's contribution, he was awarded a medal, and to commemorate the event, he created the croissant. The shape of the croissant was inspired by the crescent moon, a symbol of the Ottomans. Since then, the people of Austria have eaten croissants to remember their victory.
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