Battle of Mohács (1687)

The Battle of Mohács, fought on August 12, 1687, near Mohács, Hungary, was a significant engagement in the Great Turkish War. It marked a decisive victory for the Habsburg-led Holy League against the Ottoman Empire. This battle is distinct from the Battle of Mohács of 1526, which resulted in a crushing Ottoman victory and the death of the Hungarian King Louis II.

In 1687, the Habsburg army, commanded by Charles of Lorraine, decisively defeated the Ottoman forces under Grand Vizier Sari Suleiman Pasha. The Habsburg forces greatly outnumbered the Ottomans, estimated at around 60,000 men against 80,000 men. The battle lasted only a few hours, with the Ottoman army quickly collapsing under the pressure of the Imperial troops.

The victory at Mohács had significant consequences. It accelerated the decline of Ottoman power in Hungary and the Balkans. It also solidified Habsburg control over Hungary, leading to the formal annexation of the Kingdom of Hungary into the Habsburg monarchy. This victory provided a major boost to the morale of the Holy League and facilitated further advances against the Ottomans in subsequent years, ultimately leading to the liberation of Buda and the Treaty of Karlowitz in 1699. The battle is considered a turning point in the history of Hungary and the broader struggle between the Habsburg Empire and the Ottoman Empire.