OTTOMANBATTLES AND WARS

14th – 20th

Centuries

BATTLES AND WARS

• The Ottoman Empire started its westward expansion into the European continent in the middle of the 14th century.

• Main Battles:– Battle of Kosovo– Battle of Constantinople– Battle of Lepanto– Battle of Vienna

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Kosovo, 1389:– Serbian Empire was first significant opponent

for Ottomans.– Opponents:

• Serbs/Balkan Allies vs. Ottoman Empire

– Ruling Prince of Serbia was given an ultimatum:

• “Surrender and step down or fight and die”

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Kosovo: June, 1389:– Ultimatum given by Sultan

Murad I.– Prince of Serbia chose to

fight with a coalition force made up of Serbians, Bosnians and Germans.

– This army marched out to meet the Serbs at the “field of the blackbirds”, Kosovo.

– Sultan Murad I led his Turkish army of over twice the Balkan army's size.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Kosovo:– The edge in battle changed hands twice in a day.– The Serbian army moved forward but the King of the

Serbs was killed in battle.– The two armies fought on, beating each other into the

ground.– A Serbian captain went to the tent of Sultan Murad I

posing as a traitor. Stabbed the Sultan with a poisoned knife, killing him.

– Ottomans were declared winners because they came to occupy Serbia later on.

BATTLES AND WARS• Fall of

Constantinople: May 1453– Ottoman commander,

Sultan Mehmed II– This marked the

destruction of the Eastern Roman Empire.

– It also marked the death of the last Roman Emperor: Constantine XI.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Fall of Constantinople:– Over previous years, the Empire had been

slowly taken apart piece by piece by the Ottomans.

• The only part left was Constantinople itself.

– The Sultan had a castle built outside the walls of Constantinople on the Strait.

• This was done to block the strait so that it could not be used by Constantinople.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Constantinople:– Byzantine fighters totaled

7000.– Ottoman fighters totaled

100,000.– City wall was about 14

miles around.– Mehmed also built a fleet – Ottomans used a canon

(relatively new): 27 ft. long and 2.5 feet in diameter.

• Fire 1200 lb. ball 1 mile!• Took 3 hrs. to reload!!!

– Byzantines had canons but smaller.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Constantinople:– Byzantines blocked waterway with chains– Mehmed build a road of greased logs for his

ships.– May 22, Ottomans attack in three waves,

each held back by Byznatines.– Finally, the Ottomans found a way in the city

through an unlocked gate!• Constantine XI was killed in a battle in the streets.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Constantinople:– The city was looted for three days– Became new capital of Ottoman empire.– Hagia Sophia became a Mosque.– To this day, many Greeks see Tuesday, the

day Constantinople fell, as an unlucky day!!!

BATTLES AND WARS• Battle of Lepanto:

October 1571:– Major battle of west coast

of Greece– Opponents: The Holy

League vs. Ottomans– The coalition:

• 206 galleys• Commanded by: Don John

of Austria

– Ottoman:• 225 galleys• Commanded by: Ali Pacha

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Lepanto: October 1571:– During the course of the battle, the Ottoman

commander's ship was boarded and the admiral was beheaded, against the wishes of Don John.

– When his head was displayed from the mast of the Spanish flagship, it contributed greatly to the destruction of Turkish morale

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Lepanto: October 1571:– The engagement was a crushing defeat for the

Ottomans, who lost all but about 50 of their ships. – It was one of the most decisive naval defeats in that

regions history.– The battle was the first major victory of any European

army or navy against the Ottoman Empire.– The Holy League had suffered around 9,000.

casualties.– Ottoman casualties were around 30,000.

BATTLES AND WARS• Battle of Lepanto:

October 1571:

BATTLES ANDS WARS

• Battle of Vienna: September 1683:– Marked final turning point in struggle between

Europe and Ottoman Empire.– Ottomans were driven south of Danube River,

never to threaten central Europe again.– Austrian, German and Polish army of about

100,000 troops and their allies.– Ottomans had approximately 140,000 men.

BATTLES AND WARS

• Battle of Vienna: September 1683:– Leaders:

• European: Jan Sobieski, Polish king

• Ottoman: Kara Mustafa– Mustafa’s men took part of Viennas

walls by putting mines under them– 4 a.m. on Sept. 12, Austrian and

German forces moved against the Ottomans. Polish infantry launched massive assault on right flank.

– 5 p.m. Cavalry assault which caused the Ottomans to retreat. The war was over.

BATTLES AND WARS• Battle of Vienna:

September 1683:– Ottomans lost vast

territories.

– Ottoman losses: 15,000

– European losses:4,000.

– After this time, Ottoman Empire went into a slow decline culminating in its collapse after World War I, 1918.