Battle of Krasnobród (1672)

The Battle of Krasnobród was a significant engagement during the Polish-Ottoman War (1672-1676), a conflict sparked by Ottoman expansion into Polish territories. The battle took place near the town of Krasnobród (located in present-day Poland) on October 5 or 6, 1672.

The battle involved Polish forces under the command of King John III Sobieski (at the time, Grand Hetman of the Crown) clashing with a larger force of Crimean Tatars, allied with the Ottoman Empire. The Tatars were engaged in raiding and looting the Polish countryside, and Sobieski aimed to intercept and defeat them.

Despite being outnumbered, Sobieski's highly disciplined and well-trained Polish cavalry, primarily consisting of husaria and pancerni, launched a decisive attack against the Tatar forces. The Polish charge broke through the Tatar lines, inflicting heavy casualties and forcing them into a disorganized retreat.

The Battle of Krasnobród was a major Polish victory, significantly boosting morale and demonstrating the continued effectiveness of the Polish cavalry against the Tatars. While it did not end the war, it disrupted Tatar raiding operations and allowed the Polish forces to regroup and prepare for further engagements. The victory contributed to Sobieski's rising reputation, which would later culminate in his election as King of Poland in 1674 and his subsequent triumph at the Battle of Vienna in 1683.

The precise details of the battle, including the exact number of combatants and casualties, are subject to some historical debate. However, the overall outcome as a Polish victory, and its importance in the context of the Polish-Ottoman War, are well-established.