Salvete Omnes,
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| the routed Ottomans' fatal crossing of the river Danube - detail from a painting by Pierre-Denis Martin |
today we celebrate the anniversary of the second battle of Parkany - 9th October 1683AD.
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| on the left bank the fortress of Parkany or today's Sturovo in Slovakia opposite Gran in Hungary |
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Parkany II was mostly a cavalry battle, roughly some 30-plus thousands on each side, although some sources say 15-plus thousands of cavalry and 1000 Janissary on the Ottoman side. The Ottomans had a camp with supply train with the swamped banks of Hron river behind them.
Victorious engagement for the armies of our Polish Crown and Hapsburg Empire against the Ottoman Imperial army commanded by seraskier Kara Mehmed.
Hapsburg army was commanded by prince Charles of Lorraine, husband to the widow of our king Michal Korybut. Overall command belonged to Jan III.
Winged hussars shock tactics shone in this battle - skillfully managed by our king Jan III.
Jan III placed prince Charles' forces - infantry and artillery - in the center of the allied army, his left wing under hetman Stanislaw Jan Jablonowski, and the right wing under Hieronim Augustyn Lubomirski, here also was the command post of king Jan III. Around noon the allied army advanced and came up to the enemy lines, about 1,5km from the Parkany fortress. Then the Ottoman forces attacked furiously and charged, mostly the left wing, according to Dupont, king's secretary, at least ten times they charge, but the center was protected by the portable devices known as cheval de frise, while Jablonowski counterattacked with his Polish cavalry supported by the Imperial cuirassiers. King's left wing moved forward breaking the right wing of the Ottomans and causing panic that ended in a rout. Most panicked Ottoman cavalry then tried to swim the Danube, a huge river at this juncture, and drowned in process. Serskier Kara Mehmed did save himself but his command was destroyed.
The battle resulted in a complete annihilation of the Ottoman army - depriving the sultan of his best sipahi cavalry.
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| Pierre-Denis Martin's full canvass showing the battle |
Altomonte also painted this monumental canvass -
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| Parkany frieze from the royal Wilanow Castle |
Monument to king Jan III Sobieski in Sturovo
ps.
there are some interesting primary sources to this engagement, including three Ottoman chroniclers.
enjoy
Valete
