Siege of Érsekújvár (1663)

The Siege of Érsekújvár (present-day Nové Zámky, Slovakia) in 1663 was a significant event in the Austro-Turkish War (1663-1664). Érsekújvár was a major Habsburg fortress strategically positioned on the northern edge of Ottoman-controlled territory in Hungary. Its capture by the Ottoman forces under Grand Vizier Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha marked a considerable victory for the Ottoman Empire and a setback for the Habsburgs.

The siege began in August 1663 after an extended Ottoman campaign through Habsburg Hungary. The fortress was defended by a mixed garrison of Habsburg soldiers, Hungarian and foreign mercenaries, and local militia. The Ottoman army, vastly superior in numbers and equipment, subjected the fortress to intense bombardment and siege warfare tactics, including trench warfare and sapping.

Despite a spirited defense, the fortress’s fortifications were progressively weakened by the Ottoman artillery fire. The garrison's supplies dwindled, and morale declined under the relentless assault. After weeks of resistance, the commander of Érsekújvár, Adam Forgách, was compelled to negotiate terms of surrender.

Érsekújvár fell to the Ottomans in September 1663. The capture of the fortress allowed the Ottomans to consolidate their control over a larger swathe of Hungary and provided a critical logistical and strategic base for further campaigns into Habsburg territory. The city became the center of a new Ottoman eyalet (province).

The loss of Érsekújvár prompted a significant response from the Habsburgs and their allies. It galvanized European powers to support the Habsburg cause and led to the formation of a larger coalition against the Ottoman Empire. The fortress was eventually recaptured by Habsburg forces in 1685 after the Battle of Parkany (1684) during the Great Turkish War. The recapture of Érsekújvár marked a turning point in the struggle between the Habsburgs and the Ottomans for control of Hungary.