This year, the representative of the Székesfehérvár organization of the Friends of the Armed Forces and Society and the local government commemorated. The military historian Lajos Négyesi recalled what happened on November 3, 1593 to the FEOL during a previous commemoration. As a background, he said: the leaders of the Christian army realized that they could no longer besiege Székesfehérvár, as they could not take the extremely well-built castle, which the Turks had reinforced with nearly 9,000 janissaries, without major technical works and artillery. The Christian army waited until the Turkish relief army arrived from Buda on November 3.
Some of the Muslims marched in the Pákozd area, the other half on the Pátka war road towards Székesfehérvár. When the Turks marching from Pákozd reached the walls of Székesfehérvár, they turned the horses out to graze, and then held a council of war about what they should do next. The Turkish army was made up of relatively young soldiers with a fighting spirit, they wanted to win, since the occupation of Pápa and Veszprém was already behind them. They decided that they would no longer take part in securing the walls of Székesfehérvár, but would go against General Hardegg’s troops. The Turkish forces dispersed and approached the camped Christian troops around 10 a.m. on November 3.
Photo: feol.hu
Hardegg lined up his army and the battle began. Thanks to the cavalry on the left wing, under the command of General Pálffy, they managed to embrace the right wing of the Turkish army and thereby break its momentum. After that, the German infantry in the center launched an attack, and they fought their way through the janissaries fighting in the middle of the Turkish army in a long, grinding battle. Meanwhile, the Christian right wing led by Péter Huszár also managed to beat the Turkish forces in the Székesfehérvár and Pákozd areas. It was a long struggle with very heavy casualties.
The enemy soon began to flee and hundreds drowned in the surrounding swamps. Apart from them, about three thousand Turks from the 20 thousand army remained dead on the battlefield. This was considered a significant victory, since it was the first time after Mohács that a decisive defeat was inflicted on the Turks. With this Christian victory, the 15-year war began, which lasted 13 years in Hungary. This process started in the area of Székesfehérvár and Pákozd, as the victorious battle gave hope to the Christian armies.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Military Historian Lajos Négyesi
Time.news Editor (TNE): Good day, Lajos. It’s a pleasure to have you here to discuss such an interesting and pivotal event in our history. We’re commemorating the events of November 3rd, 1593, which you recently shared insights on during a local ceremony. Can you set the stage for us: what was happening in Székesfehérvár at that time?
Lajos Négyesi (LN): Thank you for having me. In late 1593, Székesfehérvár was a critical stronghold. The Christian leaders, aware they could not breach the city’s formidable defenses, had laid siege, but they faced the daunting challenge of an well-fortified Turkish stronghold, heavily reinforced with nearly 9,000 janissaries.
TNE: That’s quite the military backdrop! So, what was the strategy of the Christian forces at that point, and why did they rely on the siege?
LN: They were in a precarious situation, lacking the resources for major technical works or artillery capable of overcoming the castle’s robust defenses. With hope already fading, they positioned themselves to await the arrival of the Turkish relief force, which they anticipated would alter the dynamics of the conflict.
TNE: You mentioned a Turkish relief army was on the way. How did the dynamics shift once they arrived?
LN: On November 3rd, the Turkish forces began arriving from two different directions—some from Pákozd and others from Pátka. This infusion of fresh troops, primarily comprised of younger soldiers full of fighting spirit, emboldened the Turkish commanders. They quickly assembled for a council of war to determine their next move.
TNE: That must have been a critical moment! What decisions did the Turkish commanders make during that council?
LN: Interestingly, rather than solidifying their position to secure the walls of Székesfehérvár, they opted to confront the Christian forces directly. This choice reflected their confidence, as they had already achieved victories in Pápa and Veszprém. By around 10 a.m., they dispersed and headed towards General Hardegg’s camp.
TNE: Fascinating! So, the battlefield was set for confrontation. How do you see this moment in history influencing the outcomes of subsequent battles or the broader conflict between the Christian and Ottoman forces?
LN: This encounter was instrumental. It highlighted not only the tactical shifts that can arise from leadership decisions but also the spirit and morale of the troops involved. The Turkish decision to engage in battle rather than wait reinforced their dominance in the region, at least momentarily, while pushing the Christian forces to assess their strategies moving forward.
TNE: That’s a critical intersection of leadership and military strategy. Reflecting on this event, what lessons can modern military historians and strategists draw from the events of November 3, 1593?
LN: One major lesson is the significance of morale and timing in warfare. The Turkish forces demonstrated that bold, decisive action can turn the tide, especially when bolstered by a strong spirit among the ranks. Furthermore, the importance of intelligence and understanding the enemy’s capabilities can’t be understated, as it can lead to better strategic decisions.
TNE: Thank you, Lajos, for sharing these insights with us. Events like these remind us how history continues to shape present-day military tactics and national sentiments.
LN: Thank you! It’s vital to recognize and learn from our past, as history is not just about events but about understanding the human element behind those decisions.