The Sieges of Vienna by the TurksSchimmer, Karl August
History
The Sieges of Vienna by the Turks
Schimmer, Karl August
Turkey -- History -- 1453-1683; Vienna (Austria) -- History
The number of pieces of artillery furnished from the imperial arsenal
of Vienna for the defence in 1683 was 262. The thirty years’ war had
led to many improvements in the construction and use of artillery.
Gustavus Adolphus and Wallenstein had both effected important
alterations, and in 1650 a Jesuit of Warsaw had invented the elevating
screw as a substitute for the quoin. Whatever improvement, however,
had taken place in the system as applied to field movements, it would
appear that for purposes of stationary defence it was still one of much
complexity and confusion. The 262 pieces used at Vienna were of no less
than 26 denominations and calibres, the capacity of the latter ranging
from 1 lb. to 48, and in the case of some large pieces called böller
or pöller, used as mortars for vertical fire and discharging stone
shot, from 60 to 200 lbs. There were of these four of 200, two of 150,
five of 100, and ten of 60. Fifty other pieces furnished from the city
arsenal were planted, not on the defences, but at various points in
the city, and worked by 100 men of the burgher force. Of these hundred
volunteer artillerists 16 were killed and 5 of the pieces ruined: 72
pieces in all had been rendered unserviceable at the close of the siege.
Thirty-seven officers were killed, which, considering the frequency of
assaults and sallies, operations which require great personal exposure
on the part of the leaders, would appear rather a small proportion to
that of 5000 rank and file among the regular troops. The loss in action
among the citizens is scarcely possible to arrive at. The only two
officers of much distinction who fell were the Col. Count Dupigny and
the engineer, Rimpler.
The Turkish loss is stated at 48,544. It appears to have fallen
heaviest on the miners, of whom 16,000 perished, and 6000 of their
artillerists. The formidable corps of the Janissaries was reduced by a
loss of 10,000: 544 officers, including 3 pachas, were also killed. As
this list is taken from a return found in the tent of the Vizier, it
does not include the loss of the Turks in the battle. These statements
are naturally liable to much allowance for inaccuracy from many causes.
A comparison of the various sources of information leads to a rough
conclusion that the Vizier sat down before the place with about 220,000
men. Of these it is supposed not more than 50,000 regained the Turkish
frontier.
No. 2.—_Order of battle of the Christian army before Vienna on the
13th September._
The left wing was commanded by the Duke of Lorraine; the centre by the
Elector of Saxony and the Prince Christian Louis von Waldeck (it is
idle to adjoin to these the Bavarian Elector, who was present, but had
the good sense to consign the direction of his troops to Waldeck); the
right wing by the Polish Field-Marshal Jablonowski; the whole by the
King of Poland. The army was drawn up in three lines.
FIRST LINE.
_Right wing._—19 divisions and 4 battalions of Poles; 8560 cavalry,
3120 infantry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account