Battle of Ostrovica (1737)

The Battle of Ostrovica, also known as the Battle of Banjaluka, took place on August 4, 1737, near the fortress of Ostrovica (located near present-day Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina) during the Austro-Turkish War of 1737-1739. It was a significant Ottoman victory against the Habsburg Monarchy.

The Habsburg army, led by Feldmarschall Georg Olivier, Count of Wallis, attempted to capture Banja Luka. However, they were decisively defeated by the Ottoman forces under the command of Ali Pasha Hekimoğlu. The Habsburg army suffered heavy casualties, and their artillery was largely captured by the Ottomans.

The battle halted the Habsburg advance into Ottoman Bosnia and played a crucial role in reversing the gains made earlier in the war. The defeat at Ostrovica significantly weakened the Habsburg position and contributed to the unfavorable Treaty of Belgrade in 1739, which resulted in the Habsburg Monarchy ceding significant territories, including Belgrade and parts of Serbia and Wallachia, back to the Ottoman Empire. The battle is remembered as a key Ottoman victory in the 18th century.