Glasgow & District Wargaming Society
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Glasgow & District Wargaming Society |
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Zenta 1697 The Glasgow Wappinshaw show was held on Saturday 8 April 2006. The GDWS display game was Prince Eugene's victory over the Ottoman Turks at Zenta on 11 September 1687. This is the first of a series of display games at Scottish wargames shows this year featuring Prince Eugene in the Balkans. Background After the relief of Vienna in 1683 the Imperial Habsburg forces advanced into Ottoman Hungary with support from Poland, Venice and to a lesser degree Russia. In a series of victories Hungary and Transylvania returned to the Imperial fold. However, despite bold advances into Serbia the Imperial army was never able to consolidate its position south of the Danube. In particular resources were always stretched between the western front facing France and the eastern front in the Balkans. Setbacks in the 1690’s forced the Imperial army back on the defensive behind the Sava and the Danube creating a military border manned by Christian refugees from Serbia.
The Campaign of 1697 The failed campaigns of 1695-96 were led by the Elector of Saxony who after Sobieski’s death was elected to the Polish throne. This enabled the Emperor to pass command of the army in Hungary to Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697. He joined his force of 30,000 men at Peterwardein on 27 July with orders to stand on the defensive. The Ottoman Sultan Mustapha personally lead his army north from Belgrade along the River Tisza on 19 August. Eugene also went North linking up with reinforcements from Hungary which strengthened his army to 50,000 men. Mustapha moved on Szeged and Eugene followed with his Hussars limiting Mustapha’s intelligence. The Sultan decided to give up the advance on Szeged and cross the River Theiss (Tisza) at Zenta and then advance into Transylvania.
The Battle of Zenta On 11 September a captured Pasha disclosed that whilst the Sultan and most of his heavy artillery had crossed the river the Grand Vizier with the entire infantry, part of the cavalry and more than 100 guns were still entrenched in the bridgehead. Eugene rushed his army to the high ground above Zenta.
Ottoman Arnauts skirmish in the marsh in support of the Janissaries Eugene’s right wing formed up on the river bank commanded by Heister. The centre commanded by Count Reuss with and on the left Guido Starhemberg completed the encirclement of the bridgehead with a left hook. Eugene’s second in command and cavalry commander was Prince de Commercy. Swarms of Ottoman cavalry attacked the centre but were driven off by the Imperial cavalry supported by infantry and light artillery. The outer Ottoman defences consisted of uncompleted entrenchments. This was supported by a second line that included an old Imperial storehouse and a wall strengthened by palisades.
Austrian Cuirassiers drive off the Ottoman Sipahi Eugene’s left wing infantry used a sandbank to get behind the Turkish defences and threaten access to the bridge while his right wing joined up in a wide semicircle. Both sides had reached the river some two hours before sunset. Eugene then ordered a general assault on the entrenchments. Ottoman morale was affected by the flanking attack but the Janissaries in particular fought on before breaking in panic for the river.
Some 20,000 Turks including the Grand Vizier and the Aga of the Janissaries were slaughtered and a further 10,000 drowned. Eugene’s army claimed only 300 dead. This victory was decisive and lead to the Treaty of Karlowitz 1699 in which the Hapsburgs gained all of Hungary and Transylvania except the Banat of Temesvar. Eugene’s reputation was made across Europe. The ArmiesWhilst Eugene’s command achievements were considerable the superiority of the army he led owed more to the work of Raymond Montecuccoli. He improved mobility with smaller battalions and increased firepower by reducing the proportion of pikes. This work was continued after his death with the introduction of flintlocks with plug, ring and socket bayonet before most other western armies including the French. The Imperial forces in the Balkans also relied more heavily on light field artillery and up to a third of the army was cavalry. Dragoons (including Eugene’s early command) providing firepower (often on foot) with cuirassiers for shock action. The hussars who were mainly Croats as Hungary was in revolt for most of this period were used for raiding and scouting. A vital counter to the Ottoman Tartar horsemen. The Ottoman armies of this period were not radically different tactically from the highpoint of Ottoman expansion. Light troops sought to goad the Imperial troops from their defensive position onto the Janissaries and the heavy artillery. However, the quality of the army had declined. The Janissaries were no longer the disciplined force of the previous century and economic pressures had undermined the Timar system and with it the Sipahis. The provincial Seratculi infantry were excellent skirmishers well suited for the endemic border warfare, but of limited value on the battlefield. The main problem was simply that the army had not adopted the advances in fire discipline which gave the Imperial army its vital cutting edge.
Ottoman skirmishers flee but the Jannisaries hold firm. The Wargame This refight of Zenta utilises 28mm figures from a variety of manufacturers including Old Glory, Dixon, Wargames Foundry and Redoubt. The scenic items include The Last Valley and KimKayes. The rules are an adaptation of Warhammer ECW that we call Warhammer Malburian. Further Reading M. Hochedlinger Austria’s Wars of Emergence 1683-1797 Longman D. McKay Prince Eugene of Savoy Thames & Hudson N. Henderson Prince Eugen of Savoy Wiedenfeld David Chandler Art of War in the Age of Marlborough Spellmount Charles Grant From Pike to Shot 1685 to 1720 WRG
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