Battle of Zsibó

Battle of Zsibó/Jibou

Part of the Rákóczi's War of Independence

Date	November 15, 1705
Location	Zsibó, Transylvania (today: Jibou, Romania)
Result	Decisive Austrian-Danish-Serbian victory

Belligerents

Kurucs (Kingdom of Hungary)

Commanders and leaders

Francis II Rákóczi

Sándor Károlyi general

Simon Forgách general

Pierre Puchot des Alleurs marquis

Ludwig Herbeville marshal

Friedrich von Löwenburg general

Andreas Harboe general

Frederik Gersdorff general

The Serbian vojvoda of Tukulja (Tököl)

Strength

15,000, 34 cannons

16,500

Casualties and losses

400 deaths and 25 cannons

450 deaths

Battle of Zsibó (Hungarian: Zsibói csata, German: Schlacht bei Siben, Romanian: Bătălia de la Jibou) was fought on November 15, 1705 between the Kuruc (Hungarian) army (supported by French contingents) and forces of the Habsburg Empire, Kingdom of Denmark and Vojvodian Serbs in Zsibó, Principality of Transylvania (today: Jibou, Romania). The Austrian marshal Ludwig Herbeville marched against Transylvania. Although the Kuruc-French army was equal in size to the combined Austrian, Danish and Serbian forces, Francis II Rákóczi went on the defense due to the inferior training of his troops. The Danes and Austrians launched a powerful attack on the French and Kuruc infantry. Although the Kuruc infantry held its ground, the Kuruc cavalry could not launch an attack due to a lack of leadership and an overly muddy battlefield. The Austrian cavalry was thus capable of flanking the Hungarians on the left, forcing the Hungarians to retreat and crushing their cavalry in the process. After the battle, the combined Austrian-Danish army bought Transylvania.

A 1704 campaign by Kuruc forces liberated much of Hungary from Austrian rule and established numerical parity with the Austrians. However, due to better training, a stronger officer corps and deeper logistical capabilities, the Austrians still won the decisive Battle of Nagyszombat, going on to take back the important fortresses of (Buda, Pressburg and Esztergom). The Austrians subsequently called on aid from Croatian, Serbian and Danish armies.

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