The Siege of Vienna

1683
After a Siege of Sixty days, accompanied with a Thousand Difficulties, Sic nesses, !ant of "ro#isions, and great $ffusion of %lood, after a &illion of 'annon and &us(uet Shot, %om)s, *ranadoes, and all sorts of +ire !or s, which has changed the +ace of the fairest and most flourishing 'ity in the !orld, disfigured and ruined most part of the )est "alaces of the same, and chiefly those of the $mperor, and damaged in many places the %eautiful Tower and 'hurch of St- Stephen, with many Sumptuous %uildings- After a .esistance so #igorous, and the /oss of so many )ra#e 0fficers and Souldiers, whose Valour and %ra#ery deser#e 1mmortal *lory- After so many Toils endured, so many !atchings and so many 0rders so prudently distri)uted )y 'ount Starem)urgh, and so punctually executed )y the other 0fficersAfter so many new .etrenchments, "alli2adoes, "arapets, new Ditches in the .a#elins, %astions, 'ourtins, and principal Streets and 3ouses in the Town4 +inally, after a Vigorous Defence and a .esistance without parallel, 3ea#en fa#oura)ly heard the "rayers and Tears of a 'ast5down and &ournful "eople, and retorted the Terror on a powerful $nemy, and dro#e him from the !alls of Vienna, who since the +ifteenth of 6uly last early in the &orning, to the Twelfth of Septem)er, had so Vigorously attac ed it with Two hundred thousand &en, and )y endless !or ings, Trenchings, and &inings, reduced it almost to its last gasp'ount Starem)urgh, who sustained this great %urden, assisted )y so many *allant 0fficers, ha#ing gi#en 7otice to the 'hristian Army, )y Discharge of &us(uets from the Tower of StStephen, of the $xtremity whereto the 'ity was reduced, they disco#ered on the Twelfth of this &onth, early in the &orning, the 'hristian Troops marching down the 7eigh)ouring &ountains of 8alem)erg, and heard continually the Discharges of their Artillery against the Tur s, who )eing ad#anced thither, were fortified with "arapets of $arth and great Stones, to hinder the Descent of the 'hristian Army from the &ountains, who notwithstanding did ad#ance- The Vanguard of the 3orse and +oot, seconded )y the "olish 3orse, had a long S irmish with the Tur s, disputing e#ery +oot of *round, )ut seeing themsel#es totally #an(uished )y the 'hristian +orces, who had surmounted all the Difficulties of the &ountains, and drawn down their 'annon in spight of them, they retired +ighting, lea#ing to the 'hristians all their 'amps full of "a#illions, Tents, %arrac s, and $ight "ieces of 'annon 9with which they had raised a %attery on that side +our days )efore: and retreated towards their "rincipal 'amp, )etween the Villages of 3ernalls, 3ader ling and 6e2ing, )ut as they passed )y the %astion of &elc they fired their 'annon furiously of them4 The 'hristians )eing ra#ish;d with the Victory, pursued them with so much heat, that they were not only

forced to lea#e their great 'amps, )ut li ewise all their others, flying towards 3ungary4 And it is certain, had not the 7ight come on, they had totally defeated and routed the 0ttoman ArmyDuring these hot S irmishes on the &ountains, the 'hristians lost near 1<< &en, among whom the Ser=eant &a=or of the .egiment of Schult2, "rince &aurice of 'roy, 'aptain of the .egiment of *rana, the "rince his %rother, &areshal /ieutenant of the +ield, was wounded there in his Shoulder4 They fired then continually against the Approaches and %atteries of the Tur s, with the Artillery from our %astions and .amparts, the %esiegers, animated )y the presence of the *rand Visier, answered #igorously from theirs, and great Vollies of &us(uets were discharged from )oth sides, intermingled with great (uantities of *ranado;sThe *rand Visier, who was in the Approaches, ga#e them hopes of carrying the place, "rince /ewis of %aden and 'ollonel 3eusler entred their Trenches, at the same time 'ount Starem)urgh sallied and seconded them, and repulsed the 6ani2aries, who sa#ed themsel#es, with the *rand Visier, whose Son was either illed or ta en "risoner, and himself wounded, as ;tis said- 0f late the $nemy had not shot so many %om)s nor Stones, nor +ire5wor s, as they did that Sunday &orning when our &en descended from the 3ills towards the Scotch and &el %astions, upon which there stood a great many "eople to see from a5far our Descent and the 'om)at, )ut they o)ser#ed the $nemy did )ut little 3urt- Towards the $#ening the Tur s seeing the 'hristians &asters of their 'amp o#er against the Scotch %astion, and that our 'a#alry had entred it, planted Two "ieces of 'annon and shot against them, a while after, seeing themsel#es surpri2ed, they (uitted their Approaches and all their Artillery, consisting of Se#enty fi#e "ieces of 'annon, +ourteen 'annons for %attery, and some &ortar "ieces )eing compri2ed therein- At the same time there happened a S irmish in the 'amp with the 6ani2aries, who were come out of the Trenches, )ut they made no great resistance, and li e 'owards ran away1n the 7ight the 'hristians made themsel#es &asters of all the Tur s 'amp- Afterwards +our 'ompanies of our +oot entred into the $nemies Approaches with Torches and lighted Straw, )ut found nothing )ut Dead %odies, they too possession of the $nemies Artillery, some whereof were )rought into the 'ity- All the night long we saw +ires at a distance, the Tur ha#ing fired as many of their 'amps as so sudden a flight would gi#e them lea#e, and retreated from the 1sland )y fa#our of a %ridge which they had made )elow the .i#er, upon one of the Arms of the Danu)e, the 'hristians ha#ing sei2ed the %ridge a)o#e, on the same .i#er0n &onday &orning we saw all the 'amps and +ields co#ered with Souldiers as well "oles as *ermans- The 'ity was relie#ed on Sunday a)out +i#e of the 'loc in the Afternoon, and e#ery )odies curiosity carried them to see the 'amp, after they had )een shut up a)o#e two &onths-

The 8ing of "oland ha#ing in the mean time with the greatest Vigor repulsed the $nemy on his side and put them to flight, lea#ing the "lunder of their 'amp )ehind them, which consisted of a #ery .ich Tent of the *rand Visier, his 'olours, Two "oles with the 3orse Tails, their usual Signal of !ar, and his *uidon or Standard, set with Diamonds, his Treasure designed for the "ayment of the Army, and in short, all his $(uipage was possess;d )y the "olanders- As for the rest of the Tents, %aggage, Artillery, Ammunition, and "ro#isions enough to load $ight thousand !aggons, was di#ided among our Army7ight coming on, we could no longer pursue, ha#ing followed the $nemy a)out a &ile from their 'amp, and our Army ha#ing )een all that time without $ating and Drin ing, we were forced to found a .etreat to refresh them- !e had all that 7ight to rest in, and the $nemy to sa#e themsel#es- The next day )eing the Thirteenth we continued not the pursuit for the same reason, which without dou)t we might ha#e done with great ad#antage, since they fled in much disorder toward St- *odart to get o#er the .i#er .aa)- !e are )uilding a %ridge at Alltem)urgh in 3ungary, and our Armies will march #ery suddenly- 0n Sunday 7ight, after the %attle, his 1mperial &a=esty came to 'loister 7u)urgh, +our hours from Vienna, from whence he sent the next day to compliment the 8ing of "oland and the $lectors upon their good success the day )efore0n the +ourteenth, 'ount Starem)urgh came to his 1mperial &a=esty 9who recei#ed him with all manner of demonstrations of Affection and $steem: and ga#e him a .elation of se#eral considera)le passages during the Siege4 A short time after the $mperour em)ar ed on the Danu)e, and landed a)o#e the %ridge )efore the Town, and entred the 'ity at the Stu)en *ate, at /anding he was recei#ed )y the $lectors of %a#aria and Saxony, who were attended )y their *uards and a great many 7o)le &en- 1t )eing impossi)le to remo#e in so short a time such a num)er of Dead %odies, )oth Tur s, 'hristians, and 3orses, whereof the stench was so great on the .oad, that it was enough to ha#e caused an 1nfection!e saw the &ines of the Tur s which had made so great %reaches, one in the %astion of /e) and the other in that of the "alace, each a)out Six +athoms long from )ottom to top4 There were also +i#e &ines under the 'ourtin, which would ha#e )een ready to spring in two days, when they designed a general Assault, which would ha#e )een dangerous, as well for the greatness of the %reach, as the diminution of the Strength of the %esieged4 As 3is &a=esty passed o#er the %ridge erected on purpose at the %astion of Stu)en5Tower, he was harangued in /atin )y the &agistrate, and thence he went to the 'athedral of St- Stephens- Three .oyal Vollies were made )y all the Artillery, the first at his &a=esties arri#al near the Town, the second at his landing, the third during the Te Deum, which )eing ended, he returned to his "alace, and ga#e Audience to se#eral "u)lic &inisters, and after dined with the two $lectorsTowards 7ight arri#ed the Du e of /orrain, who was recei#ed with great 6oy and Satisfaction 9ha#ing )eha#ed himself to Admiration: for his 'are, Valour and 'onduct, during the whole Action- 0n the fifteenth the $mperour, $lectors, and D- of /orrain, went to Visit the 8ing of "oland and ta e a View of his Army, which was $ncamped upon the 3igh5way as far as $)ersdorf- The $lector of %a#aria was at the 3ead of his Troops with his Sword drawn, with which he made a most profound .e#erence to 3is 1mperial &a=esty, who came and em)rac;d him, saying a Thousand o)liging Things of him, desiring him to put up his Sword, !hereupon his $lectoral 3ighness told him that it was the same Sword which had )een gi#en him )y 3is 1mperial &a=esty at Alten 0ettinghen Two years since, and which ha#ing promised to wear for his Ser#ice, he was now come to perform his Duty4 )ut since his &a=esty commanded him to put it up, he o)eyed- And then he as ed his &a=esty whether he

should &arch or .etreat with his Troops4 3e li ewise as ed the same of his 3ighness of /orrain, who stood )y the $mperours side, and then follow;d the $mperour to $)ersdorf, and from thence to Schwechet, where was the 3ead >uarters- As soon as the 8ing saw the $mperour coming, he ad#anced towards him, accompanied with the "rince his Son, the great &areschal 6a)lonows y, "alatin of .ussia, with se#eral other "ersons of >uality, #ery )ra#ely attended, and as we marched li ewise in a great %ody, we made a Demi5circle on )oth sides, and drew so near to one another that we made a perfect 'ircle, that no )ody could enterTheir &a=esties )eing on 3orse5)ac , complimented each other upon the Victory, which the one attri)uted to the other, the 8ing of "oland had the greatest share of the glory of this day which he )est deser#ed4 for he may )e truly stiled one of the *reatest 8ings of 'hristendom, and the most Valiant- After half an hours 'on#ersation, the $mperour was desired )y the 8ing of "oland to see his Army, which he accepted of, and was conducted )y his *reat &areshal- 1n effect ne#er any thing could )e seen more *reat and 3eroic than the +our thousand 3ussars, who were all well5armed with 'oats of &ale, and all the rest of the Army #ery )ra#ely accoutred3a#ing #iewed the whole "olish Army, the *reat &areshal commanded the said 3ussars to ma e the 'ourse which they are used to ma e when they go to in#est the $nemy, wherewith 3is 1mperial &a=esty was highly pleasedAfterwards 3is 1mperial &a=esty returned to 'ourt, where we learn e#ery hour so many particulars of this happy Success, that the Victory and the /oss which the $nemy has suffered, is greater than can )e imagined!e ha#e ta en all the Tents of the $nemy, a)out 0ne hundred and twenty *reat *uns, all their %aggage, and a #ery great >uantity of Ammunition1t is confirmed li ewise, That the 8ing of "oland, has 9)esides the Tent of the *rand Visier: his 3orses with their rich 3arness- 1t is also said, That )esides all the Treasure in Sil#er, which was designed for the payment of the 0ttoman Army, there were two 'a)inets with 6ewels, so that the %ooty was so great, that it is not well to )e express;d/ast 7ight +orty 6ani2aries ha#ing sa#ed themsel#es upon the %attlements which are call;d "a#illions, with a great num)er of 'hristian 'hildren of )oth Sexes, whom they had made Sla#es, and the "oles ha#ing summoned them to surrender, they )egg;d that they might )e recei#ed into the 6ani2ary *uards of the 8ing of "oland, and unless that might )e granted, they would ill the 'hildren and defend themsel#es to the man4 !hereupon the 8ing of "oland granted their re(uest?esterday the 8ing of "oland )egan to march in pursuit of the Tur s, and was to )e this 7ight at !ischa- 0ur Army is to follow too &orrow- 0ne "art is already past the Danu)e in (uest of the .e)els3is 1mperial &a=esty ma es account tomorrow to return to /int2-

1@ Septem)er

The $mperour is gone this day to /int24 !e are now )eginning to cleanse the 'ity of its .u))ish, and carry off the Dead 'arcasses of &an and %east- The Tur s had a +rench 1ngineer in their 'amp, who hath done #ery much hurt to this 'ity, and ruin;d us A< "ieces of 'annon4 There was also a great many +rench among the 6ani2aries, and many were found among the Dead with +rench Sil#er and *old in their "oc ets- There are daily )rought in a great num)er of Tur s "risoners since the flight of the *rand Visier- 1t is intended to set the Tur s that are already, and shall )e hereafter ta en, at !or on the reparation of our %astions and 'ourtins- The Sieur 8aunit2, the $mperours .esident at the "ort, who was found in the *rand Visier Tent, is now in this 'ityThis moment comes the 7ews that +riday last the 1Bth, a part of the Tur s Army fled away in such haste, within sight of .aa), as if ours were at their )ac s, the 0fficer who )rought it, added that in his way from .aa) he met with )ut two Tur s, whom he )rought "risoners to %ruc ham of 'eytha, where he sold them for four "ec s of 0ats- All the $nemies or .e)els who had got into the 1sle of Schut, are retired thence- There are gone down from hence some %oats full of 1nfantry towards 3ungary- !e are in hopes to hear shortly of some great $nterpri2e on the Tur s- 3ere are daily )rought in a)undance of young children whom the Tur s had ta en 'apti#e, they ra#ish;d the young &aids and !omen, and cut off the 3eads of the old &en and !omen3ere is 7ews from *rat2, That 'ount %udiani 9who hath desired 'ount Strasoldo to intercede for him to the $mperour: had commanded 8<<< 3ussars of his Troops, under the 'ommand of his Son and the 'ount 7adasti, to fall on C<<< Tur s encamped near 'anisa, and that they ha#e put them all to the Sword- %aron %uroni is dead, and his Son re#olted from the .e)els, and )egs the $mperours "ardon- The Tur s who are "risoners, unanimously affirm, That the *rand Visier hath caused 1)rahim %assa Visier of %uda to )e strangled for first gi#ing *round at the %attle )efore Vienna- "art of the 0ttoman Army is arri#ed near *ree ish !eissen)urgSince this Signal Victory o)tained )y the 'hristian Army 9who some days had refreshed themsel#es: we are certainly informed they passed "res)ourgh the C3th of Septem)er, in pursuit of the scattered +orces of the 0ttoman Army, who fled to Stollweissem)ourgh, so that a few days will )ring us an Accompt of what has passed )etween them- This Victory hath already gi#en this ad#antage to our Affairs, that the 'ount of Trausmondorse had ta en and confiscated the 'astles and .e#enues of those who had done 3omage to the Tur , and it was resol#ed to do the li e in 3ungary-