TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · Wars, battles and treaties
Siege · 1529
The 1529 siege of Vienna was the first attempt by the Ottoman Empire to capture the city of Vienna in the Archduchy of Austria, part of the Holy Roman Empire. Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottomans, attacked the city with over 100,000 men, while the defenders, led by Niklas Graf Salm, numbered no more than 21,000. Nevertheless, Vienna was able to survive the siege. The siege ultimately lasted just over two weeks, from 27 September to 15 October 1529. The siege came in the aftermath of the 1526 Battle of Mohács, which had resulted in the death of Louis II, King of Hungary and the descent of the kingdom into civil war. Following Louis' death, rival factions within Hungary selected two successors: Archduke Ferdinand I of Austria, supported by the House of Habsburg, and John Zápolya.
| Date | 27 September – 15 October 1529, (2 weeks and 4 days) |
|---|---|
| Location | Vienna, Holy Roman Empire, (present-day Austria) |
| Result | Habsburg victory |
| Belligerents | Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Bohemia Electorate of the Palatinate Duchy of Carniola Spanish Empire | Ottoman Empire Moldavia (Vassal state) |
|---|---|---|
| Commanders | Niklas Graf Salm (DOW) Philipp der Streitbare Wilhelm von Roggendorf Johann Katzianer Pavle Bakić | Suleiman the Magnificent Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha |
| Strength | ≈ 17,000–21,000 | ≈ 75,000–100,000 combatants (out of 120,000–125,000 total campaign force) |
| Casualties | Unknown, with presumably high civilian fatalities and at least 20,000 civilians enslaved More than 1,500 dead (>10% of the garrison) | 15,000 wounded, dead or captured |
As the Ottomans retreated, eight squadrons of cavalry and four companies of foot soldiers under the command of Katzianer and Bakić pursued them. The Ottoman rearguard was continuously attacked over a three-day period from 17 to 20 October. Over 200 Ottomans were killed, a pasha captured, and numerous Christian children rescued from captivity. Ottoman troops enacted a scorched-earth policy as they retreated, engaging in massacres, plundering and arson. Some historians speculate that Suleiman's final assault was not necessarily intended to take the city but to cause as much damage as possible and weaken it for a later attack, a tactic he had employed at Buda in 1526.
Took place during the reign of Suleiman I (1520–1566). Suleiman I
Open the reign of Suleiman I on the mapText: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), adapted for the atlas.