Vienna – The Siege that Stopped the Ottomans

Episode 10 of Turning Points: History’s Greatest Battles recounts the Battle of Vienna (1683) — the decisive clash that halted the Ottoman Empire’s final advance into Europe. Led by Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha, an Ottoman army of more than 150,000 men surrounded Vienna, defended by only 15,000 under Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg. For two months, the city endured constant bombardment and starvation, desperately holding out for reinforcements. Salvation came in the form of King Jan III Sobieski of Poland, who led a coalition of Polish, Austrian, and German troops. On September 12, 1683, Sobieski’s forces descended from the hills above Vienna, launching a coordinated assault that culminated in one of the largest cavalry charges in history. The Polish Winged Hussars, nearly 20,000 strong, smashed into the Ottoman lines, routing the invaders and ending the siege. The victory at Vienna saved Europe from Ottoman conquest and marked the beginning of the empire’s long decline. It also symbolized the power of unity, strategy, and faith in the face of overwhelming odds — a true turning point in the history of the continent.