Hungarian campaign of 1527–1528

The Hungarian campaign of 1527–1528 was launched by Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria and King of Hungary and Bohemia against the Ottoman Turks. Following the Battle of Mohács, the Ottomans were forced to withdraw as events elsewhere in their now massive Empire required the Sultan's attention.[1] Seizing upon their absence, Ferdinand I attempted to enforce his claim as King of Hungary. In 1527 he drove back the Ottoman vassal John Zápolya and captured Buda, Győr, Komárom, Esztergom, and Székesfehérvár by 1528. Meanwhile, the Ottoman Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent, took no action at this stage despite the pleas of his vassal.

Campaign of Ferdinand I
Part of the Ottoman–Habsburg wars
Date 1527–1528 Location Hungary Result Austrian victory. Austria occupies Győr, Komárom, Esztergom, Buda, and Székesfehérvár
Belligerents
Habsburg Austria  Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of Bohemia  Kingdom of Croatia Ferdinand's Hungarian kingdom Rascians	Ottoman Empire  Moldavia John Zapolya's Hungarian kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor Jovan Nenad †	John Zápolya Peter IV Rareș Suleiman the Magnificent
Strength
60,000	30,000
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

Aftermath

For the Habsburgs, the victory here would be a very disappointing one. On 10 May 1529, Suleiman the Magnificent launched his own counter-attack negating all of Ferdinand's gains. Of greater disappointment was the fact that many of the recently captured forts surrendered without resistance, greatly speeding up the advance. As a result, Suleiman was able to reach and besiege Vienna.

Notes

1. Turnbull, Stephen. The Ottoman Empire 1326–1699. New York: Osprey, 2003. pg 49