The Siege of Vienna was a major battle between the Ottoman Empire and a coalition of European powers. It took place from July 14 to September 12, 1683, and is considered one of the most important turning points in European history.

Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha:
The Ottoman Empire, under Sultan Mehmed IV and led on the battlefield by Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha, was expanding into Central Europe. Vienna, the capital of the Habsburg Monarchy (Holy Roman Empire), was seen as a strategic gateway to Western Europe. The Ottomans had already controlled large parts of the Balkans, and capturing Vienna would have opened the way toward Germany, Italy, and France.

The Siege of Vienna – 1683
The Ottomans laid siege to Vienna with an army estimated at over 100,000 men. The city was defended by only about 15,000–20,000 soldiers, under Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg. For nearly two months, the Ottomans bombarded the walls and tried to dig tunnels underneath to collapse the city’s fortifications. Food and ammunition inside Vienna were running low, and the situation was becoming desperate.

Relief and Battle:
A coalition army, known as the Holy League, was formed by the Holy Roman Empire, Poland-Lithuania, and other allies. Led by King Jan III Sobieski of Poland, a relief force of about 70,000–80,000 troops marched to Vienna. On September 12, 1683, the coalition launched a surprise attack on the Ottomans.

The battle ended in a decisive Christian victory, highlighted by one of the largest cavalry charges in history, led by the Polish winged hussars.

Aftermath:
The Ottomans retreated in defeat, and Kara Mustafa was later executed for his failure. The siege marked the end of Ottoman expansion into Central Europe. It was the beginning of the Habsburg counter-offensive, which eventually pushed the Ottomans out of Hungary and other European territories.

Historical Significance:
The Siege of Vienna was a major turning point in the struggle between the Ottoman Empire and European powers. It shifted the balance of power in favor of the Holy Roman Empire and its allies. The victory was celebrated across Europe and symbolized the beginning of the long decline of the Ottoman Empire in Europe.