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List of campaigns of Suleiman the Magnificent

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Campaigns of Suleyman I
Campaigns of Suleyman the Magnificent
Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe
and the Ottoman wars in the Near East

Suleyman I attributed to school of Titian c.1530
Date1521-1566
Location
Europe and Near East
Result Growth of the Ottoman Empire
The growth of the Ottoman Empire. The map is showing Suleyman's conquests in comparation with his predecessors and successors.

The Campaigns of Suleyman I are a series of conflicts led by Suleyman I (Ottoman Turkish: سليمان Suleymān, Modern Turkish: Süleyman, almost always Kanuni Sultan Süleyman; Template:Pron-en; 6 November 1494 – 5/6/7 September 1566), who was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.[1] He is known in the West as Suleyman the Magnificent, and in the East as the Lawgiver (Turkish: Kanuni), for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system. During his reign from 1520 to his death in 1566, the Ottoman Empire became the most powerful state in the world.[2] At its height, the Empire stretched from Vienna to Arabian Peninsula.[2]

Suleyman became the Sultan at the age of 25, upon succeeding his father Selim I in 1520, and began a series of military conquests.[3] In addition to campaigns led by his viziers and admirals, Suleyman personally led 13 campaigns.[Note 1] The total duration of these campaigns adds up to the ten years and three months.[4] The details of the first eight campaigns were preserved in Suleyman's diary.[5] His main opponent was Ferdinand I from the House of Habsburg (later Holy Roman Emperor), and Tahmasp I of Safavid Persia. Most of his campaigns were directed to the west.[6] In 1521 the Ottomans captured Belgrade, which had been besieged unsuccessfully by Mehmed the Conqueror, and in 1526 the Battle of Mohács ended with the defeat of Louis II of Hungary.[6] After most of Hungary was conquered, Suleyman's conquests were checked at the siege of Vienna in 1529. He annexed most of the Middle East in his conflict with the Safavids.[4] Under his rule, the Ottoman annexed large swathes of North Africa as far west as Algeria, while the Ottoman fleet dominated the seas from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.[7]

In January 1566 Sultan Suleyman I, who had ruled the Ottoman Empire for 46 years, went to war for the last time.[8] Although he was 72 years old and suffered gout to the extent that he was carried on a litter, he nominally commanded his thirteenth military campaign.[8] On 1 May 1566, the Sultan left İstanbul at the head of one of the largest armies he had ever commanded.[8] Nikola Šubić Zrinski's success in an attack upon a Turkish encampment at Siklós, and as a consequence Suleyman's siege of Szigeth, blocked Ottoman's line of advance towards Vienna.[9] Although an Ottoman victory, the battle stopped the Ottoman push for Vienna that year, since Suleyman died during the siege.[10] Shortly after Suleyman's death, Ottoman Empire entered a period of stagnation.[2]

Usage

The table's columns (except for Images) are sortable pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.

  • #: number of the campaigns which Suleyman personally led. These does not include the campaigns led by his viziers and admirals.
  • Campaign: name of the campaigns (alternative names for some campaigns are included below the first name)

  Suleyman military Victory
  Indecisive or unclear outcome

  • Opening and terminal dates: time period of campaign with opening and terminal dates of each campaign
  • Notes: Campaign path which is in small font, describes Suleyman's exact direction in particular campaign. Suleyman's main battle/target is bolded. Below the campaign path there is a short description of the campaign, covering all major events.
  • Image: presented image is closely related with campaign, usually showing the main battle/target
  • The duration of the each campaign is shown in a separate table.
  • Images of Suleyman's opponents are presented in the image gallery at the bottom of the page.

Campaigns

Main article: Suleyman the Magnificent
# Campaign[11] Opening and terminal dates[11] Notes Image
1 Belgrade 18 May 1521 –
19 October 1521 		Campaign path: Filibe (Plovdiv)–Niš–Belgrade–Semendire (Smederevo)[11]
The Ottomans under Suleyman made preparations for the conquest of Belgrade, which had been besieged unsuccessfully by Mehmed the Conqueror.[6] With a garrison of only 700 men, and receiving no aid from the Kingdom of Hungary, Belgrade fell in August 1521.[12]
Belgrade in 16th century
2 Rhodes 16 June 1522 –
30 January 1523 		Campaign path: Kütahya–Denizli–Rhodes–Alaşehir[11]
The Siege of Rhodes was the second and ultimately successful attempt by the Ottomans to expel the Knights of Rhodes (Knights Hospitaller) from their island stronghold and thereby secure Ottoman control of the Eastern Mediterranean. In the summer of 1522, Suleyman dispatched an armada of some 400 ships while personally leading an army of 100,000 across Asia Minor to a point opposite the island.[13] Following a siege of five months, Rhodes capitulated and Suleyman allowed the Knights of Rhodes to depart.[13]
Siege of Rhodes
3 Mohács 23 April 1526 –
13 November 1526 		Campaign path: Belgrade–Peterwardein (Petrovaradin)–Eszek (Osijek)–Mohács–Ofen (Buda)–Szegedin (Szeged)–Bécse (Bečej)[11]
On August 29, 1526, at the Battle of Mohács, the Christian forces led by Louis II of Hungary were defeated by Ottoman forces led by Suleyman.[14] After king Louis was killed in the battle, both the Kingdom of Hungary and Kingdom of Croatia became disputed territories between the Habsburg and Ottoman empires. While the nobles of both Hungary and Croatia nominated Austrian archduke Ferdinand I as the king of Hungary and Croatia,[15] the Ottomans appointed John Zápolya as the king.[16] After Hungarian resistance collapsed, the Ottoman Empire became the pre-eminent power in Southeast Europe.[17]
Battle of Mohács
4 Vienna 10 May 1529 –
16 December 1529 		Campaign path: Mohács–Ofen (Buda)–Komorn (Komárom)–Győr–Vienna[11]
After Suleyman's return to İstanbul,Transilvanian voivode John Zápolya and Austrian archduke Ferdinand (future emperor) began struggling for the vacant Hungarian crown. Under Charles V and his brother Ferdinand , the Habsburgs occupied Buda and took Hungary. When Zapolya was defeated he asked for Suleyman's support to regain his territories. Suleyman quickly regained the control of Hungary including Buda he and reappointed Zapolya as his vassal. [13]He then proceeded to Austria and laid a siege to Vienna. But Ottomans' first attempt to capture Vienna failed.[18]. Although a failure, the siege signalled the pinnacle of the Ottoman Empire's power and the maximum extent of Ottoman expansion in central Europe.[18]
Siege of Vienna
5 Güns (Kőszeg)
or
Great German (Turkish: Büyük Alman) 		25 April 1532 –
21 November 1532 		Campaign path: Eszek (Osijek)–Babócsa–Rum–Styria–Güns (Kőszeg)–Pettau (Ptuj)–Varaždin–Požega[11]
After Suleyman crossed the river Drava at Osijek, instead of taking the usual route for Vienna, he turned westwards into the Ferdinand's held Hungarian territory.[19] After taking few minor places [20], he laid siege to a border town called Güns (Kőszeg).[19] According to some sources Suleyman was repulsed in the Siege of Güns.[21][22][23] In another account, Croatian baron Nikola Jurišić who was the city's commander, was offered terms for a nominal surender.[19] In both versions, Suleyman withdrew at the arrival of the August rains.[19][24] The other result of the Suleyman's second invasion of Vienna was a peace treaty concluded with King Ferdinand.[25] The treaty confirmed the right of John Zápolya as a king of all Hungary, but recognised Ferdinand's possession of that part of the country that enjoyed the status quo.[25]
Monument of the Siege of Güns (Kőszeg)
6 Persia
or
Two Iraq (Turkish: Irakeyn).[Note 2] 		11 June 1534 –
8 January 1536 		Campaign path: Konya–Sivas–Erzurum–Erciş–Tabriz–Sultaniye (Soltaniyeh)–Dargazin–Qasr-e Shirin–Baghdad–Irbil (Arbil)–Zagros–Tabriz–Khoy–Lake Van–Amid–Urfa (Şanlıurfa)–Aleppo–Adana–Konya–Istanbul[11]
The Capture of Baghdad by Suleyman from the Safavid dynasty under Tahmasp I was part of the Ottoman–Safavid War (1532–1555).[26] Baghdad was taken without resistance, as the Safavid government fled and left the city undefended.[26]
Shah Tahmasp greets the exiled Humayun
7 Corfu
or
Apulia (Turkish: Pulya) 		17 May 1537 –
22 November 1537 		Campaign path: Filibe (Plovdiv)–Uskup (Skoplje)–Elbasan–Avlonya (Vlorë)–Corfu–Manastir (Bitola)–Selanik (Thessaloniki)[11]
As a part of the Franco-Ottoman alliance, the Ottomans invaded Apulia in Southern Italy.[27] Although the Ottomans produced much terror, Otranto and Brindisi held out.[27] Since France failed to meet his commitment, Suleyman abandoned the campaign in Italy, and led the siege of Corfu against the Venetian-held island of Corfu.[27] It was part of the Ottoman–Venetian War (1537–1540). Although Ottomans failed to capture Corfu.[28] they captured Klis on Dalmatian coast. [29]
Corfu in 16th century
8 Moldavia (Turkish: Kara Boğdan) 9 July 1538 –
27 November 1538 		Campaign path: Babadaği (Babadag)–Jassy (Iaşi)–Suceava[11]
In 1538 Suleyman invaded Moldavia.[30] The prince Peter IV Rareş fled into exile in Transylvania, and Suleyman occupied major cities of Moldavia, including the capital of Jassy (Iaşi).[30] He appointed Ştefan as the new king of Moldavia.[31] Suleyman also occupied Suceava and annexed Bessarabia.[30]
Suceava Castle
9 Hungary
or
Buda (Turkish: Budin or Istabur).[Note 3] 		20 June 1541 –
27 November 1541 		Campaign path: Ofen (Buda)[11]
The Habsburgs attempted a siege of Buda (1541), which was governed by Isabella Jagiellon with support from Suleyman.[27] Suleyman took personal command of the Ottoman relief army, reached Buda, and defeated the Habsburgs.[27] Suleyman annexed Hungary to the Ottoman realm and appointed Isabella as queen regent of Transylvania (Turkish: Erdel). [32]
Siege of Buda
10 Hungary
or
Gran (Esztergom) 		23 April 1543 –
16 November 1543 		Campaign path: Eszek (Osijek)–Siklós–Ofen (Buda)–Gran (Esztergom)–Tata–Pest[11]
In April 1543 Suleyman returned to capture the Hungarian towns that had gone over to the Austrians during Ferdinand's last invasion.[27] In August 1543 the Ottomans succeeded in the Siege of Esztergom (1543), which was followed by the capture of three Hungarian cities, providing better security for Buda: Székesfehérvár, Siklós and Szeged.[27]
Siege of Esztergom
11 Persia
or
Iran 		29 March 1548 –
21 December 1549 		Campaign path: Tabriz–Van–Muş–Bitlis–Amid (Diyarbakır)–Ergani–Harput (Elâzığ)–Amid–Urfa–Birecik–Aleppo–Hama–Hims–Antioch[11]
Attempting to defeat the Shah once and for all, Suleyman embarked on a second campaign against the Safavid dynasty. Suleyman abandoned the campaign with temporary Ottoman gains in Tabriz and Persian Armenia, a lasting presence in the province of Van, and some forts in Georgia.
Walled City of Van
12 Persia
or
Nakhchivan 		28 August 1553 –
31 July 1555 		Campaign path: Kütahya–Ereğli (where Suleyman executed prince Mustafa)–Aleppo (for the winter)–Amid (Diyarbakır)–Erzurum–Kars–Karabağ (Nagorno-Karabakh)–Nahçıvan (Nakhchivan)–Erzurum–Sivas–Amasya (second winter)[11]
Suleyman began his third and final campaign against the Safavid Empire, in which he first lost and then regained Erzurum. Ottoman territorial gains were secured by the Peace of Amasya in 1555. Suleyman returned Tabriz, but kept Baghdad, lower Mesopotamia, the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris, and part of the Persian Gulf coast.[33]
Suleyman marching in Nakhichevan
13 Szigetvár (Szigeth) 1 May 1566 –
6 September 1566 		Campaign path: Siklós–Pécs–Szigetvár (on 6 September the Suleyman died)[11]
In 1566, king of Germany (future emperor) Maximilian II laid a claim to Transilvania (Turkish: Erdel) [34], a vassal of Ottomans. To contervail Suleyman decided to attack Eger (German: Erlau) an Austrian fort on the Transilvanian border. But upon learning about the success of Croatian born Austrian commander Nikola Šubić Zrinski in an attack upon a Turkish encampment at Siklós, Suleyman directed his campaign to Zrinsky's fortress at Szigetvár to eliminate him as a threat.[35][36] During the Siege of Szigetvár (Szigetvár), Zrinski died in the final charge, and Suleyman died in his tent from natural causes, just before the Ottoman victory.[10] The prolonged resistance at Szigetvár as well as Suleyman's death delayed any other Ottoman conquest that year.[10][37] Even if Suleyman had lived his army could not have achieved much in the short time that remained between the fall of Szigeth and the onset of winter.[37]
Siege of Szigetvár

The total duration during the campaigns

Name of the campaign Year Month Day
Belgrad 5 3
Rhodos 7 13
Mohach 6 21
Vienna 7 7
Great German 6 20
Irakeyn 1 6 27
Pulya 6 6
Kara Boğdan 4 20
Budin (Istabur) 5 7
Estergon 6 23
Van 1 8 23
Nakhchivan 1 11 3
Szigetvár 4 6


Image gallery of Suleyman's opponents

See also

Main article: Index of Ottoman Empire-related articles

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ^ Some sources list 14 campaigns with an extra campaign in 1559. However in 1559 although Suleyman made preparations for a campaign against his son Şehzade Beyazıt, he renounced campaigning upon the later's retreat to Persia.
  2. ^ The name Irakeyn (Two Iraq) refers to two regions of Iraq, one with an Arabian majority and the second with Persian majority.
  3. ^ Istabur is moat or mobile forification around the forts captured during this campaign
Citations
  1. ^ Pitcher (1972), p. 110.
  2. ^ a b c Turnbull (2003), p. 100 (cover).
  3. ^ Turnbull (2003), p. 45.
  4. ^ a b Pitcher (1972), p. 112.
  5. ^ Pitcher (1972), p. 111.
  6. ^ a b c Faroqhi (2008), p. 62.
  7. ^ Mansel (2006), p. 61.
  8. ^ a b c Turnbull (2003), p. 55.
  9. ^ Turnbull (2003), p. 56.
  10. ^ a b c Turnbull (2003), p. 57.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Pitcher (1972), pp. 111-112.
  12. ^ Imber (2002), p. 49.
  13. ^ a b c Kinross (1979)
  14. ^ Turnbull (2003), p. 49
  15. ^ Corvisier and Childs (1994), p. 289
  16. ^ Turnbull (2003), pp. 55–56.
  17. ^ Kinross (1979), p. 187
  18. ^ a b Turnbull (2003), pp. 49–51.
  19. ^ a b c d Turnbull (2003), p. 51.
  20. ^ Iorga (2005), (Vol 2) p.349
  21. ^ Wheatcroft (2009), p. 59.
  22. ^ Thompson (1996), p. 442
  23. ^ Ágoston and Alan Masters (2009), p. 583
  24. ^ Vambery, p. 298
  25. ^ a b Turnbull (2003), pp. 51–52.
  26. ^ a b Cavendish (2006), p. 193.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Turnbull (2003), p. 52.
  28. ^ Setton (1984), pp. 432-433.
  29. ^ Iorga (2005), (Vol 2) p.321
  30. ^ a b c Shaw (1976), p. 100.
  31. ^ Iorga (2005), p. 356. (Vol 2)
  32. ^ Iorga (2005), (Vol 3) pp.26-27
  33. ^ Kinross (1979), p. 236.
  34. ^ Iorga (2005), (Vol 3) p.61
  35. ^ Setton (1984), pp. 845–846.
  36. ^ Shelton (1867), pp. 82–83.
  37. ^ a b Elliott (2000), p. 118.

References

  • Ágoston and Alan Masters, Gábor and Bruce (2009). Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 0816062595, 9780816062591. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Cavendish, Marshall (2006). World and Its Peoples: The Middle East, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. London: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 0761475710, 9780761475712. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Corvisier, André; Childs, John (1994). A dictionary of military history and the art of war. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 0631168486, 9780631168485. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Elliott, John Huxtable (2000). Europe divided, 1559–1598. Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 0631217800, 9780631217800. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Faroqhi, Suraiya (2008). The Ottoman Empire: a short history. Markus Wiener Publishers. ISBN 1558764496, 9781558764491. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Imber, Colin (2002). The Ottoman Empire, 1300–1650 : The Structure of Power. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9780333613863.
  • Iorga, Nicolae (2005). Osmanlı İmparatorluğu tarihi, Vol 2 : 1451-1538 and Vol 3 : 1538-1640 (translated by Nilüfer Epçeli) (in Turkish). İstanbul: Yeditepe. ISBN 9756480173.
  • Kinross, Patrick (1979). The Ottoman centuries : The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire. New York: Morrow. ISBN 9780688080938.
  • Mansel, Philip (2006). Constantinople: City of the World's Desire, 1453-1924. John Murray. ISBN 0719568803, 9780719568800. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Pitcher, Donald Edgar (1972). An Historical Geography of the Ottoman Empire. Brill.
  • Setton, Kenneth Meyer (1984). The Papacy and the Levant, 1204–1571: The Sixteenth Century. Vol. III. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society. ISBN 0871691612, 9780871691613. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Shaw, Stanford J. (1976). History of the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey. Vol. I. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521291631, 9780521291637. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Shelton, Edward (1867). The book of battles: or, Daring deeds by land and sea. London: Houlston and Wright.
  • Thompson, Bard (1996). Humanists and Reformers: A History of the Renaissance and Reformation. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 0802863485, 9780802863485. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Turnbull, Stephen R (2003). The Ottoman Empire, 1326-1699. New York (USA): Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0415969131.
  • Vambery, Armin. Hungary in Ancient Mediaeval and Modern Times. Forgotten Books. ISBN 1440090343, 9781440090349. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)
  • Wheatcroft, Andrew (2009). The Enemy at the Gate: Habsburgs, Ottomans, and the Battle for Europe. Basic Books. ISBN 0465013740, 9780465013746. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: invalid character (help)

Further reading

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