Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664)

The Austro-Turkish War of 1663–1664, also known as the Fourth Austro-Turkish War, was a major conflict between the Habsburg monarchy and the Ottoman Empire. The war was primarily triggered by Ottoman incursions into Habsburg Hungary, spurred by the ambition of Grand Vizier Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha to expand Ottoman territory and influence.

The immediate pretext for the war was the Transylvanian revolt led by John Kemény, which the Habsburgs supported. The Ottomans viewed this as interference in their sphere of influence. Ottoman forces launched a significant campaign in 1663, capturing key fortresses such as Érsekújvár (Neuhäusel) and threatening Vienna.

Facing a dire situation, Emperor Leopold I appealed for aid from other European powers. He received support from various German states, France, and even the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The combined Christian forces, under the command of Raimondo Montecuccoli, managed to slow the Ottoman advance.

The crucial battle of Saint Gotthard, fought on August 1, 1664, proved to be a decisive victory for the Christian allies. Montecuccoli's forces inflicted heavy losses on the Ottoman army, halting their advance.

Despite this victory, Emperor Leopold I, wary of prolonging the war and facing internal political constraints, signed the Peace of Vasvár in 1664. The treaty, while formally restoring territories conquered during the war, granted the Ottomans control of Érsekújvár and other regions. The treaty also included a 20-year truce and a payment to the Ottomans, which was seen as humiliating by many Hungarians and other Habsburg subjects. The perceived leniency of the Peace of Vasvár contributed to growing discontent and would later fuel further unrest in Habsburg Hungary. The war is considered a significant, albeit strategically inconclusive, episode in the long history of Austro-Turkish conflicts.