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Y309: The Ascendancy of the Ottoman Empire 1453–1606

Depth study: The Battle of Mohács 1526 — the battle and its consequences

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit group 3

Overview

Recall questions on the Hungarian army, the decision to fight, the battle of 29 August 1526, Louis II’s death, Hungarian losses, the succession crisis, the new frontier, the threat to the Habsburgs and the debate over Hungary’s collapse.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Describe the course of the battle fought on the plain of Mohács on 29 August 1526.

Key term

Summarise the debate over whether Mohács caused Hungary's collapse.

Key term

How severe were the Hungarian losses?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Who led the Hungarian army, and how large was it?

    Model answer

    It was commanded jointly by Pál Tomori, Archbishop of Kalocsa, and György Zápolya, with roughly twenty-five thousand men.

  2. 2

    Why did the Hungarians choose to give battle rather than wait?

    Model answer

    Their commanders judged that the Ottoman army would only grow stronger, that the ground suited a cavalry charge, and that retreating would surrender the country without a fight; critics have called it a reckless gamble made for reasons of honour.

  3. 3

    Describe the course of the battle fought on the plain of Mohács on 29 August 1526.

    Model answer

    The Hungarian heavy cavalry charge broke the first Ottoman line, but the pursuit carried it onto the Janissaries and the guns, whose fire shattered it, and the army was destroyed in under two hours.

  4. 4

    How did King Louis die?

    Model answer

    He was drowned in a swollen stream while fleeing the field, leaving no heir.

  5. 5

    How severe were the Hungarian losses?

    Model answer

    Some fourteen to sixteen thousand men were killed, including seven bishops and a large part of the political nation, and thousands of prisoners were executed afterwards.

  6. 6

    What happened to Hungary in the weeks after the battle?

    Model answer

    Suleiman advanced to Buda, sacked it, took away plunder and captives, and then withdrew without annexing the kingdom.

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