Battle of Grocka
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Grocka, also known as Battle of Krotzka, was fought between Austria
and the Ottoman Empire
on July 21–22, 1739, in Grocka
, Belgrade
. The Turks were victorious and took the city of Belgrade. The battle was part of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
.
to engage the enemy at the first possible opportunity. On the morning of July 21, the battle commenced, and lasted for the length of the day. The Ottoman forces, better prepared and outnumbering their opponent, intended to resume fighting the next day, but the Austrians decided to retreat during the night. However, the Ottomans followed them and the next day forced the Austrians to surrender.
, in which all Austrian conquests in the Balkans were given back, including Belgrade, with the exception of the Banat
.
Austria paid a high price for neglecting to maintain an efficient army and to look for a worthy successor for Eugene of Savoy.Fieldmarshal Wallis, charged with negligence, was court-martialled and condemned to imprisonment in the castle of Spielberg. He was released three months later, when he was pardoned by the new Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
.
Archduchy of Austria
The Archduchy of Austria , one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire, was the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy and the predecessor of the Austrian Empire...
and the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
on July 21–22, 1739, in Grocka
Grocka
Grocka is a suburban neighborhood and one of 17 municipalities which constitute the City of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.- Location :...
, Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
. The Turks were victorious and took the city of Belgrade. The battle was part of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars
Ottoman-Habsburg wars
The Ottoman–Habsburg wars refers to the military conflicts between the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg dynasties of the Austrian Empire, Habsburg Spain and in certain times, the Holy Roman Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary. The war would be dominated by land campaigns in Hungary and present day...
.
Battle
The Austrians had direct orders from emperor Charles VICharles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
to engage the enemy at the first possible opportunity. On the morning of July 21, the battle commenced, and lasted for the length of the day. The Ottoman forces, better prepared and outnumbering their opponent, intended to resume fighting the next day, but the Austrians decided to retreat during the night. However, the Ottomans followed them and the next day forced the Austrians to surrender.
Consequences
The defeat at Grocka had an enormous psychological impact at the Austrian Court. After a series of resounding victories against the Ottomans under Eugene of Savoy, a short and victorious campaign was expected again this time. The unexpected defeat made the Austrians eager for peace. The Ottoman diplomats took advantage and obtained the very advantageous Treaty of BelgradeTreaty of Belgrade
The Treaty of Belgrade was the peace treaty signed on September 18, 1739 in Belgrade, Habsburg Kingdom of Serbia , by the Ottoman Empire on one side and the Habsburg Monarchy on the other....
, in which all Austrian conquests in the Balkans were given back, including Belgrade, with the exception of the Banat
Banat
The Banat is a geographical and historical region in Central Europe currently divided between three countries: the eastern part lies in western Romania , the western part in northeastern Serbia , and a small...
.
Austria paid a high price for neglecting to maintain an efficient army and to look for a worthy successor for Eugene of Savoy.Fieldmarshal Wallis, charged with negligence, was court-martialled and condemned to imprisonment in the castle of Spielberg. He was released three months later, when he was pardoned by the new Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
.