ValeOfShadows 🇵🇱 (@ValeOfShadows)

October 9th, 1683 Párkány, Lower Hungary(Štúrovo, Slovakia) The Battle of Párkány was the beginning of the European counter-offensive against the Ottoman Empire. On September 12th 1683 the combined forces of the Holy Roman Empire and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the "Holy League" saved Vienna from being conquered by the Ottoman Empire. Following the Ottoman Empire's defeat at Vienna, Duke Charles, of Lorraine commander of the HRE's forces wanted to take the League's forces and advance on Ottoman territory. King Jan Sobieski however wanted to rest and recover for a few days, as he argued the Commonwealth's forces were exhausted from a long march to Vienna. On September 17th the League's forces leave Vienna and head toward Ottoman territory. Their goal is to conquer the fortress of Esztergom, which would cut off Lower Hungary an Ottoman vassal from receiving supplies and military aid. Many of the Ottomans who fled Vienna regrouped at at town known as Párkány right outside of Esztergom. The League plans on striking Párkány first. By October 7th the League's forces reach Párkány. King Sobieski takes a few thousand men and cavalry and advances toward Párkány. But to Sobieski's surprise the Ottomans are prepared for him and thousands of Ottoman horsemen appear out of a nearby forest and attack. Sobieski orders a withdraw back to the rest of the League's forces. As the Poles retreat some Ottoman horsemen get through the line and come close to Sobieski, but some Polish horsemen notice this and intervene allowing Sobieski to escape. Eventually the Poles make it back to rest of the League's forces and Ottoman horsemen withdraw, not wanting to fight the whole army. The next day both the League and the Ottomans spent the entire day setting up battle lines and fortifying positions. On October 9th the battle began, the League had around 26k men. Out of the 150k Ottoman men that attacked Vienna earlier in the year only around 18k remained. The Ottomans made the first move attacking the League's left flank with a cavalry charge. The charge fails but more Ottomans are sent in, eventually the withdraw. A much larger attack with the Ottoman left and center is launched. This attack fails as well, Polish nobleman Stanisław Jabłonowski leader of the League's left flank orders a counter attack, which begins to push the Ottoman's lines back. Sobieski who commands the right flank of the League's forces launches his own attack against the Ottomans. A shock charge by the Winged Hussars breaks the Ottoman right and soon after the entire Ottoman battle line falls. The Poles then begin killing any Turk they can get their hands on as revenge for the events of the 7th. The League lost around 1k men while the Ottomans lose over 10k. The Battle of Párkány began the liberation of Hungary and eventually much of the Balkans from Ottoman rule.