Battle of Karlowitz

Battle of Karlowitz
Part of the Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718)
Date 2 August 1716 Location Karlowitz, Military Frontier, Habsburg monarchy 45°12′N 19°56′E Result Ottoman victory Territorial changes Ottomans capture Karlowitz
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire	Habsburg monarchy
Commanders and leaders
Ali Pasha Mehmed Pasha Osman Pasha Sarı Ahmed Pasha Türk Ahmed Pasha	János Pálffy Siegfried Breuner (POW) Johann Hauben (WIA) von Owen (WIA)
Strength
3,000–10,000	8,000
Casualties and losses
Unknown	700–3,000 killed
class=notpageimage| Location within Europe Battle of Karlowitz (Serbia)

Austro-Turkish War of 1716–18

200km
125miles

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The battle of Karlowitz was fought on 2 August 1716 at Karlowitz, situated on the Military Frontier between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy. The Ottoman forces were led by Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha whilst the Habsburg troops were commanded by János Pálffy. The battle was the first engagement of the Austro-Turkish War (1716–1718), and resulted in an Ottoman victory.

Background

From June to September 1715, the Ottoman Empire, led by Grand Vizier Silahdar Damat Ali Pasha, easily reclaimed the Peloponnese, which they had ceded to the Republic of Venice with the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. Thus, the Venetian Kingdom of the Morea was no more and had been absorbed into Ottoman territory. Having formed an alliance with Venice in April 1716 and as the guarantor of the Karlowitz treaty, Austria demanded the full withdrawal of Ottoman troops from the region, as well as financial compensation to Venice for the continued violation of the stipulations of the Karlowitz treaty. Confident that they could defeat the Habsburgs and possibly reconquer Hungary due to successive victories in the Pruth River Campaign and the war with Venice, the Ottomans responded to Austria's ultimatum by waging war on 15 May 1716.

Prelude

Ali Pasha left Belgrade with his well-supplied army and crossed the Sava between 26 and 27 July, setting up camp at noon. Soon thereafter, the Ottoman army advanced towards Karlowitz, after which they aimed to besiege Petrovaradin. Habsburg spies were aware of the Ottoman advance, and Eugene of Savoy informed Emperor Charles VI on 28 July that the Ottoman soldiers numbered between 200,000 and 250,000 based on their reports. This was a significant overestimation.

With the Ottomans marching towards Petrovaradin, the Habsburg army followed suit and advanced to the Military Frontier between the Ottoman and Holy Roman empires. Arriving in Petrovaradin before the Ottomans, Field marshal János Pálffy wanted to organise a reconnaissance expedition to track the advancement of the Ottoman army. Pálffy's company consisted of 900 Austrian horsemen, 500 infantrymen, and 400 Hussars. Eugene reluctantly agreed to the expedition, and gave Pálffy explicit instructions to steer clear from any confrontation. Pálffy sent Eugene a letter later that evening asking for more reinforcement for his mission. Eugene responded by sending two regiments of cuirassiers and warned Pálffy once more not to engage in combat. Pálffy had no other choice, as on 2 August, shortly after the cuirassiers had arrived, he was suddenly faced with an Ottoman force numbering 3,000 to 10,000 men (including Sipahis). Pálffy's force is said to have numbered 8,000. The confrontation was close to Kapela Mira (Peace Chapel), the chapel where the Treaty of Karlowitz was signed.

Battle

In the ensuing four-hour struggle, Pálffy traversed hazardous terrain that was fragmented by trenches and valleys in an effort to return to Petrovaradin. Two horses were killed while Pálffy was on them, whereas Lieutenant field marshal Johann Hauben and Oberstleutnant von Owen were among those injured. Lieutenant field marshal Siegfried Breuner's horse was killed and he was captured as a prisoner of war. He was killed by Ali Pasha whilst in captivity during the Battle of Petrovaradin, which occurred only three days later. Kurt Mehmed Pasha and Şehsüvaroğlu Osman Pasha were the main pashas who chased after the retreating Habsburg forces.

After hours of retreating, Pálffy's troops neared the walls of Petrovaradin. The Ottoman horsemen closed into Pálffy's whereabouts, almost within reach to strike him down. Habsburg soldiers rushed to form a line from which they could engage in volley fire, while dozens of cannons were fired at the Sipahis from the fortress of the city. This prompted the Sipahis to return to Ali Pasha's camp, while Pálffy and other commanders scrambled to get into the fortress. In total, Pálffy had lost 700 to 3,000 men. Eugene of Savoy viewed the battle as a fiasco and that "it would have been better if it had not happened".

Aftermath

Ali Pasha organised an emergency meeting in his camp where he asked other pashas whether it would be suitable to chase the retreating Habsburg soldiers into Petrovaradin. Although Türk Ahmed Pasha found no issue with this, Sarı Ahmed Pasha objected and said that the Ottoman troops were tired. He also pointed out that artillery and ammunition were on the way, so it would be beneficial to wait for them to arrive before initiating a major conflict. Ali Pasha agreed, and the fateful Battle of Petrovaradin took place three days later.