Battle of Smolenice

Part of Rákóczi's War of Independence

Date	May 28, 1704
Location	Smolenice, Upper Hungary (today Slovakia)
Result	Tactical Kuruc (Hungarian) victory

Belligerents

Kurucs (Kingdom of Hungary) with Slovak rebels

Habsburg Empire

Holy Roman Empire

Kingdom of Denmark

Commanders and leaders

Sándor Károlyi General

László Ocskay Brigadier

Miklós Bercsényi General

General Johann von Ritschan

Guido von Starhemberg

Duke John Adolphus of Holstein-Plön

Colonel Leopold Maltzan

Strength

ca. 15,000 (5,000-6,000 participated in the battle)

2331 infantry
250 cavalry
4 cannon

Casualties and losses

300-400 dead

700 captured, several hundred dead, 3 cannon

The Battle of Smolenice (Hungarian: Szomolányi csata, German: Schlacht bei Smolenitz, Slovak: Bitka pri Smoleniciach) was a battle between the Kuruc (a group of Hungarian peasants), and the forces of the Habsburg Empire, soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire and auxiliaries from Denmark. The battle occurred on May 28, 1704, at Smolenice in Upper Hungary (present day Slovakia), where the Kuruc army routed the Habsburg forces, capturing the Austrian commander. For a short time, the rebels threatened the safety of Vienna, marauding through a number of villages in Lower Austria, Marchfeld, and Moravia.

In April 1704, Miklós Bercsényi led an uprising among the Hungarian and Slovak peasants in Upper Hungary, promising freedom on behalf of Francis II Rákóczi. Bercsényi intended to defeat the army of the Austrian general Johann von Ritschan. General von Ritschan left Moravia with the aim of reaching Pressburg (present-day Bratislava).

The Kuruc force had approximately 15,000 untrained fighters. Bercsényi commanded the light horsemen. He also commanded a small number of infantry, as well as a gathering of Slovak and Hungarian peasants who possessed only agricultural tools and obsolete rifles as weapons.

Ritschan opposed Bercsényi's army with Imperial forces from Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Denmark, and Germany. Although significantly outnumbered by the Kuruc forces, Ritschan's forces were highly trained and well-equipped. The Imperial army consisted of 2,331 infantry, 250 cavalry and 4 cannon, and was composed of the following units:

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