Siege of Neamț Citadel

SIEGE OF 1476

Cetatea Neamtului was an important stronghold for the romanian principality of Moldavia, during the course of the middle ages, up to the XVII century.It is rumored that it was built in the XIII century by the teutonik knights, in orther to be of protection against tatar raids from the east.

In the year 1476, after defeating the moldavian armyes in the Battle of Valea Alba, the ottoman Sultan Mehmet II forced the moldavian voivode Stefan cel Mare to retreat in this stronghold.However, as legend says, his mother did not let him to enter the stronghold, but advised him to go north into what is now Bukovina and gather a new army.While Stefan was gathering its armyes in the north, Mehmet II laid siege to the Cetatea Neamtului.He positioned wisely his cannons on a nearby hill, and began bombarding the stronghold, causing to it much damage.The moldavian garnison was at the point of surrender, when a german prisonier held in the dungeons came whith the idea of using the cannons against the ottoman position on the hill.His idea was put in practice, and soon the camp of the ottomans was under attack by cannons, forcing Mehmet II to leave the area.The event is recorded by the late moldavian cronicle of Ion Neculce.

SIEGE OF JAN SOBIESZKI

Most probably a historicall legend, this siege (if it really happened), took place probably during the early years of rule of Dimitrie Cantemir, ruler of Moldavia in the late XVII century and early XVIII century.The story is as following: coming back from a raid against Moldavia, the polish king Jan Sobieszki whith his 20 000 men strong army, came across the Cetatea Neamtului, defended by less than 20 men.The polish king, attacked the stronghold, believing that it contains necesary provisions for his starving army.After a couple of days of siege, the small moldavian garnison surrendered.The legend says that moved by the determined resistance against his armye by this small squad, the polish king granted life and free passage for the moldavian garnison.

Altough many historians contest the autenticity of this legendar siege, the legend took a very important place in the national consciense of romanians, during the XIX century.