Siege of Buda (1529) explained

Conflict:Siege of Buda (1529)
Partof:the Little War in Hungary
Date:1529
Place:Buda, Hungary
Result:Ottoman victory
Combatant1: Holy Roman Empire
Combatant2: Ottoman Empire
Commander1:Ferdinand I
Commander2:Suleiman the Magnificent
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:Unknown
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:Unknown

The siege of Buda was a military operation led by the Ottoman Empire with the aim of capturing Buda and installing John Zápolya as its ruler.[1] [2]

Ferdinand I was able to defeat John Zápolya in September 1527 and have himself crowned in November. Zápolya refused to give up his claims to the Hungarian throne and therefore appealed to Suleiman for recognition in return for tribute. Suleiman accepted Zápolya as his vassal in February and in May 1529 Suleiman personally embarked on his campaign.

On 26–27 August Suleiman had Buda encircled and the siege began. The walls were destroyed by intensive cannon and gun fire of the Ottoman artillery between 5 and 7 September. The military preparedness, uninterrupted attacks and physical and psychological destruction that was caused by the Ottoman artillery had the desired effect. The German mercenaries surrendered and ceded the castle to the Ottomans on 8 September. John Zápolya was installed in Buda as a vassal of Suleiman.[3]

After the defeat of Ferdinand his supporters were promised safe passage from the town, however the Ottoman troops slaughtered them outside of the city walls.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Veszprémy, László. "Buda: From a Royal Palace to an Assaulted Border Castle, 1490–1541." In Medieval Buda in Context, pp. 495-512. Brill, 2016.
  2. Bonney, Richard. "Suleiman I ("the Magnificent")(1494–1566)." The Encyclopedia of War (2011).
  3. Tracy, James. "The Road to Szigetvár: Ferdinand I's Defense of His Hungarian Border, 1548–1566." Austrian History Yearbook 44 (2013): 17-36.
  4. Botar, Oliver AI. "From European Capital to Ottoman Outpost: The Decline of Buda in the Sixteenth Century." Hungarian Studies Review 14, no. 1 (1987).