Battle of Keresztes

Battle of Keresztes, Ottoman miniature.

Date	23–26 October 1596
Location	Mezőkeresztes (Turkish: Haçova), northern Hungary
Result	Decisive Ottoman victory

Belligerents

Spain

Saxony

Bohemia
Walloon and French mercenaries
Serbs
Cossacks
Polish cavalry

Commanders and leaders

Mehmed III
Damat İbrahim Pasha Grand Vizier

Archduke Maximilian
Sigismund of Transylvania

Strength

~100,000Turks, and Tatar

~40,000-50,000
30-100 Cannons

Casualties and losses

~20,000-30,000

~12,000-23,000-30,000

The Battle of Keresztes (Also known as the Battle of Mezőkeresztes) (Turkish: Haçova Muharebesi) took place on 24–26 October 1596. The battle was fought between a combined Habsburg-Transylvanian force and the Ottoman Empire near the village of Mezőkeresztes (Turkish: Haçova) in northern Hungary. The battle ended with a victory by the Ottoman Empire.

On 23 June 1596, an Ottoman Army marched from the city of Constantinople. Commanded by Sultan Mehmed III, the army marched through Edirne, Filibe (now known as Plovdiv), Sofia and Niš to arrive at Belgrade on 9 August. On 20 August, the army crossed the River Sava by bridge and entered the Austrian territory of Siren. A war council was called at Slankamen Castle, and it was decided that they would begin a siege on the Hungarian fort of Eger (Erlau). The fort controlled the communication routes between Habsburg Austria and Transylvania, all of whom were in revolt against the Ottoman suzerainty.

However, news soon arrived that the Austrians had besieged and succeeded in taking over the Castle of Hatvan and had killed all the Ottomans housed there, including the women and children. The Ottoman Army started a siege on the fort of Eger on 21 September 1596, and by 12 October the castle had capitulated. As a retaliation to the Hatvan castle massacre, the defenders of this castle were all executed.

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Wikipedia