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The Turkish Defeat at Vienna (September 12, 1683)

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September 19th

The Emperour is gone this day to Lintz: We are now beginning to cleanse the City of its Rubbish, and carry off the Dead Carcasses of Man and Beast. The Turks had a French Ingineer in their Camp, who hath done very much hurt to this City, and ruin’d us 50 Pieces of Cannon: There was also a great many French among the Janizaries, and many were found among the Dead with French Silver and Gold in their Pockets. There are daily brought in a great number of Turks Prisoners since the flight of the Grand Visier. It is intended to set the Turks that are already, and shall be hereafter taken, at Work on the reparation of our Bastions and Courtins. The Sieur Kaunitz, the Emperours Resident at the Port, who was found in the Grand Visier Tent, is now in this City.

This moment comes the News that Friday last the 17th, a part of the Turks Army fled away in such haste, within sight of Raab, as if ours were at their backs; the Officer who brought it, added that in his way from Raab he met with but two Turks, whom he brought Prisoners to Bruckham of Ceytha, where he sold them for four Pecks of Oats. All the Enemies or Rebels who had got into the Isle of Schut, are retired thence. There are gone down from hence some Boats full of Infantry towards Hungary. We are in hopes to hear shortly of some great Enterprize on the Turks. Here are daily brought in abundance of young Children whom the Turks had taken Captive; they ravish’d the young Maids and Women, and cut off the Heads of the old Men and Women.

Here is News from Gratz, That Count Budiani (who hath desired Count Strasoldo to intercede for him to the Emperour) had commanded 8000 Hussars of his Troops, under the Command of his Son and the Count Nadasti, to fall on 2000 Turks encamped near Canisa, and that they have put them all to the Sword. Baron Buroni is dead, and his Son revolted from the Rebels, and begs the Emperours Pardon. The Turks who are Prisoners, unanimously affirm, That the Grand Visier hath caused Ibrahim Bassa Visier of Buda to be strangled for first giving Ground at the Battle before Vienna. Part of the Ottoman Army is arrived near Greekish Weissenburg.

Since this Signal Victory obtained by the Christian Army (who some days had refreshed themselves) we are certainly informed they passed Presbourgh the 23th of September, in pursuit of the scattered Forces of the Ottoman Army, who fled to Stollweissembourgh; so that a few days will bring us an Accompt of what has passed between them. This Victory hath already given this advantage to our Affairs, that the Count of Trausmondorse [Trautmannsdorf] had taken and confiscated the Castles and Revenues of those who had done Homage to the Turk; and it was resolved to do the like in Hungary.

Finis



Source of English text: London, Printed for Samuel Crouch at the Corner of Popes-Head Alley next Cornhill, 1683.

Reprinted in C.A. Macartney, ed., The Habsburg and Hohenzollern Dynasties in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries, in Documentary History of Western Civilization. New York, Evanston, and London: Harper & Row, 1970, pp. 59-66. Introduction, editorial notes, chronology, translations by the editor; and compilation copyright © 1970 by C.A. Macartney. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

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