Battle of Szőreg

Part of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848

Date	5 August 1849
Location	near Szőreg, Szeged, Torontál County, Kingdom of Hungary
Result	Austrian victory

Belligerents

Hungary

Polish legion

Italian legion

Austrian Empire

Commanders and leaders

Henryk Dembiński

Alessandro Monti

Julius Jacob von Haynau

Strength

34,000 men
108 cannon

46,000 men
284 cannon

Casualties and losses

500 dead and injured
400 taken prisoner

Unknown

The Battle of Szőreg was a battle in the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, fought on 5 August 1849 at Szőreg, Hungary. The Hungarian troops, led by Henryk Dembiński, lost the battle against the Emperor’s troops, led by Haynau. Even though the Hungarian losses were relatively small in number, the defeat deeply affected the Hungarians' organisation and morale.

On 22 July, Haynau started to move his troops towards Szeged from Budapest and on 24 July he followed them. He prepared for a hard and serious fight. Haynau precisely planned this battle: he divided his army of 46,000 people and 284 cannon into three parts. His plan was that he would take the Hungarian troops in a pincer movement at Szeged. Haynau sent his 3rd legion to Szabadka under the command of Georg Heinrich Ramberg. Haynau led his strongest legion (the Russian legion and his cavalry joining forces) and reached Kiskunfélegyháza without resistance. On 29 July Mór Perczel and his legion (26,438 people and 49 cannon) arrived at Szeged.

20,000 soldiers occupied the front at Szeged, which partly bordered the River Tisza. Most of the 4th Hungarian legion (10,500 legionnaires, 50 cannon) also went there from Bácska under Richard Guyon’s command, with Alessandro Monti’s legion (3,500 legionnaires, 8 cannon). The Emperor’s 1st legion occupied the Cegléd-Nagykőrös-Szolnok area under Franz Schlik’s command. They reached the River Tisza. Haynau gave orders to Ramberg and Schlik: Ramberg to move from Törökkanizsa and Schlik from Makó towards the Hungarian troops. Haynau wanted to start a frontal attack in the hope that the three legions jointly would destroy the Hungarian troops.

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Wikipedia