Battle of Grocka

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Grocka
partof=the Ottoman wars in Europe and Ottoman-Habsburg wars


caption=
date=July 22, 1739
place=Grocka, Belgrade, in what is now Serbia
result=Ottoman victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Grand Vizier Silahdar Damat Mehmed Paşacite book |last=Nicolle |first=David |authorlink=David Nicolle |title=Armies of the Ottoman Turks, 1300-1774 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |date=1983 |pages=33-34 |isbn=0850455111]
commander2=Marshal Walliscite book |last=Abbott |first=John Stevens Cabot |authorlink=John Stevens Cabot Abbott |title=The Empire of Austria: Its Rise and Present Power |publisher=Rickey, Mallory & Company |date=1859 |pages=406-407 |isbn=]
strength1= 100,000
strength2= 40,000 - 56,000
casualties1= Unknown
casualties2= 3,000 - 7,000

The Battle of Grocka was fought between Austria and the Ottoman Empire on July 21 - July 22, 1739, in Grocka, Belgrade. [cite book |last=Lund |first=Eric A. |authorlink= |title=War for the Every Day: Generals, Knowledge, and Warfare in Early Modern Europe, 1680-1740 |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=1999 |pages=180 |isbn=0313310416] [cite book |last=Bodart |first=Gaston |authorlink= |title=Losses of Life in Modern Wars, Austria-Hungary: France |publisher=H. Milford |date=1916 |pages=39 |isbn=] The Turks were victorious and took the city of Belgrade. The battle was part of the Ottoman-Habsburg wars.

Background

Battle

Though greatly outnumbered, the Austrians had direct orders from emperor Charles VI 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 far 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 Turks under Eugene of Savoy, a short and victorious campaign was expected again this time. The unexpected defeat made the Austrians eager for peace. The Turkish diplomats took advantage and obtained a very advantageous treaty of Belgrade, 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.

References