The second war austro-Turkish was held 1683 with 1699. She opposed the Ottoman Empire to the Monarchy of the Habsbourg, allied of the Papal States, the Poland, Venice, the Toscane, Genoa, the Spain, the Portugal, the Savoy, the Bavaria, the Saxony and the circles of Souabe and Franconie.

Causes of the war

With the war which had just finished against the Russia, the Grand Sultan had from now on the freehands against the Monarchy of Habsbourg. It finds an ally in the person of Louis XIV which wishes to occupy Habsbourg in the East while it annexes some territories in the west. Léopold Ier has extremely to make with the royal Hungary which includes/understands a strong Protestant minority. Whereas Léopold Ier was ready to make concessions with the Protestants, Louis XIV pushes the count Imre Thököly, chief of the Hungarian insurrectionists, to harden his requirements, in order to prevent any reconciliation. In same time, the king of France announces via his ambassador with Constantinople, Guilleragues, that its kingdom would observe a strict neutrality in the event of conflict between the Door and the monarchy of Habsbourg. The Sultan starts by supporting revolted Hungarian.

In Vienna, the Austrian diplomacy was more occupied tying alliances against France so that this last cease its policy of the Réunions. The pontifical diplomacy plays a crucial role to direct energies against the Ottoman Empire. It allows in particular alliance with the king of Poland, Jean Sobieski. The latter is signed the March 31st 1682. The emperor would provide an army of 60.000 men while the king of Poland would provide an army of 40.000 which would remain under its command. Convaincre Venice was less difficult insofar as Républicque feared a Turkish offensive on the Dalmatie, and this in spite of the treaty signed in 1669.

With the autumn 1682, the war appears inevitable, insofar as the sultan did not want to renew the truce of Vasvar and asserts territories in royal Hungary. In August 1682, the sultan Mehmed IV makes the decision of the war against Léopold the Ist army was to gather in Belgrade in May of the following year. The habsbourg then multiply the efforts to constitute a coalition. Louis XIV adopts an attitude of strict neutrality and interdict with his officers to go to help the emperor. The abbot Eugene of Savoy-Carignan derogates from this rule and passes definitively in the imperial camp.

The Turkish army counts 110.000 men for which it is necessary to add 20.000 Tatars of the Crimea, 6.000 men of the prince of Transylvania, 6.000 men of the voïvodes of Valachie and Moldavie and 6.000 riders Malcontents. Against this army of 150.000 men, Danubian Monarchy can align only 70.000 men. It can count on the military contribution of the Holy roman Empire estimated at 40.000 men and on the Polish quota.

The head office of Vienna

The May 14th 1683, Kara Mustafa is named commander-in-chief of the Turkish army. After be reviewhaving reviewed with Belgrade by the Sultan, it travels towards Hungary. It is joined soon by Thököly. The objective intial of this army was the catch of the fortresses of Raab and Komaron but Mustafa announces with its council its intention to take Vienna. The government of Vienna prepared with this possibility and took the necessary measures with a seat. The Austrian army, ordered by the duke Charles V of Lorraine is charged to slow down the advance of the Othoman Turks. The latter, after having hustled Charles of Lorraine the July 2nd, arrive in front of Vienna the July 14th.

While Kaplirs and Starhemberg organized the defense of the city with the assistance of the Liebenberg burgomaster, Charles of Lorraine awaited the reinforcements. Kara Mustafa distributes its troops in the west of the city and undertakes to attack by south-west. Trenches are dug in order to reach the foot of the wall. During this time, the Othoman artillery bombards the city. In September, the city was ready to fall. But the so much awaited reinforcements arrived progressively. With final, the united army counted 60 or 70.000 men who were put under the command of Jean Sobieski.

This last makes cross the the Danube to its army, takes the Kahlenberg and is installed on the heights which dominate the capital. Kara Mustahpa estimated that it could at the same time continue the seat and contain the army of help. But it was without counting on the defection of the khan of the Crimea and Thököly. The September 12th 1683 engages the Bataille of Vienna. The duke of Lorraine manages in end-of-day to penetrate in the Turkish trenches and to release the city. Even if the losses are weak on the two sides, the Turks raise the seat.

The Austrian counter-offensive

The allies hesitate to continue the Turks whose troops remain important. The king of Poland launches out but it is beaten with Parkany. With the support of Charles V of Lorraine, the two men finally manage to take the city then Esztergom the October 25th. They beat the Turks there on November 1st then the Polish army is folded up. Kara Mustafa is strangled on order of the Sultan the December 25th. The emperor was tempted to negotiate in order to take again the fight in the west but its entourage and the pope pushes it to exploit his victory and to draw aside any Othoman threat. In 1684 constitutes the Holy-League with the Pape, the Empereur, the République of Venice, Malta and the Toscane. The Austrian army launches the offensive on the Hungary whereas the Hungarians joined with Léopold Ier. Pest falls but Buda remains with the hands of the Turks.

Charles of Lorraine fails to take Bude in 1684 but it takes Ersékujvar in 1685. In same time, the Venetian fleet badgered the Turkish coasts, badly defended. The September 2nd 1686, Charles of Lorraine takes Bude after a general attack. The Venetian ones seize Lépante and the Petites Dardanelles the July 24th 1687, the Morée and Corinthe the August 9th 1687 and finally Athens the September 25th. In 1687, the Turks launch a counter-offensive to Hungary but they are beaten with the Bataille of Mohacs the August 12th. Maximilien-Emmanuel of Bavaria replaces Charles of Lorraine, patient and lance an offensive in direction of Transylvania. It occupies Kolozsvar and constrained the prince Apaffy to sign a treaty by which it recognizes pours the sovereignty of the emperor and him tribute in exchange of what it is seen recognizing his own security, the privileges of Transylvania and the religious liberty. The May 9th 1688 is signed the Traité of Hermannstadt between the Électeur of Bavaria and the prince de Transylvanie by which the Transylvania becomes an Austrian protectorate. Only the towns of Eger or royal Alba remain with the hands of the Turks.

Maximilien-Emmanuel de Wittelsbach seizes Belgrade the September 8th 1688. In same time met the Diète of Presbourg where the Hungarians agreed to recognize Joseph, oldest son of Léopold as hereditary king of Hungary. The Austrian offensive on the Othoman possessions in Europe causes a political serious attack in Istanbul. the Door is forced to require peace but the Habsbourg refuse. The Austrian troops will push their advantage and penetrate in Bosnia, go up the valley of the Morava until Nis. A Serb revolt makes it possible to the Austrians to occupy Vidin, Skopje and Prizren in 1689. The Imperial ones go even until in Valachie and negotiate with the Boyards the passage of Othoman suzerainty to that of the emperor.

However the beginning of the Guerre of the League of Augsburg makes it possible to relieve the face is. The top dog Mustafa Köprülü carries out even a counter-offensive in Hungary with the assistance of Thököly. After having beaten the Austrians with the Battle of Zernyest the August 21st 1690, this last obtains Diet with the support of the Sultan the title of Prince de Transylvanie. The Turks take again Nis then Belgrade the October 14th 1690. The Austrians seize again and beat the Turks with the Bataille of Slankamen the August 19th 1691. Thököly finds death in the battle. This victory does not enable them all the same to take again Belgrade. The Turks consolidate their fortifications there. the Danube becomes the border between the two empires. In same time, the Turks put in failure all the Venetian attempts to recover the Crete and Chio.

From 1695, the sultan Mustafa II (1695 - 1703) revival the offensive on the face of Blakans but the emperor dispatches Eugene of Savoy on the face is and obtains the unhoped-for support of the tasr of Russia which tries to seize Azov. He manages to do it in 1696 with the assistance of engineers sent by Léopold. The September 11th 1697, Eugene of Savoy gains a decisive victory over the Turks with the Bataille of Zenta. This Turkish defeat costs the life to the top dog assassinated by the Janissaires and opens the Bosnia with the imperial troops. The new top dog Hüseyin Pasha request peace. This peace is also wished by Léopold insofar as the succession of Spain approaches.

The treaty of Karlowitz

The January 26th 1699 is signed the Traité of Karlowitz between the Habsbourg, Venice, the Poland and the Ottoman Empire. The Monarchy of Habsbourg receives the Hungary and the Transylvania while the Banat of Temesvar remains with the Ottoman Empire. The emperor recognizes denominational pluralism in Transylvania. The Republic of Venice preserves the Morée, Corinthe, the island of Holy-Moor as well as places in Dalmatie and Bosnia. Poland recovers the Podolie lost in 1672. The sultan confirmed freedom of worship on his catholic subjects and allowed the Austrian merchants to trade freely in the empire. For the first time, the sultan was integrated in the rules of the European diplomacy. The sultan signs peace with Russia with the Traité of Constantinople the July 15th 1700. He loses Azow défintivement and recognizes Russian suzerainty on the Cosaques Zaporogues. The Door promises to prohibit with the Tatars new raids.

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