COAT OF ARMS : THE SWORD : THE TURKS

Many heraldic coat of arms for ancient Hungarian families include a hand with a sword such as in this more fanciful artwork. The icon indicates the family may have risen to noble status through defeating the Turks.

THE ENEMY AT THE GATE by ANDREW WHEATCROFT on THE SIEGE OF VIENNA IN 1683

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

I have a confession to make. I didn't read this book cover to cover as I usually do before posting. But I can say that all the positive reviews are right. It really is riveting!  I just had one interruption after another as I tried to read it and I think this book takes some deep concentration to grasp the details of battles and all the various historical characters. But, just because this isn't the best time for me to read it, doesn't mean you can't. I think it's one for the shelf of anyone interested in the history of Hungary and thereabouts.

Author Wheatcroft assures us that both sides claimed victories and both war-craft and heroism are emphasized. It is rich with descriptions of the Ottoman's tent-cities, the taking of slaves - those from Royal Hungary were especially prized. This battle was a pivotal one because, after it, the Ottoman Turks were not able to further expand their empire into Europe. It was the first time that the Holy Roman Empire (Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I) and the Polish Lithuanian Commonweath, under the command of King John III Sobieski together went against the Ottoman Turks (Grand Vizier Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha)and their empire. To this day, when someone tells me that they consider the Poles and the Hungarians to be 'friends' I know that idea comes from their collaboration in war.

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As you may have seen, some of the earliest heraldic crests that identify noble families have images of success against the Turks. The armies that went against the Turks were quite outnumbered. There was tremendous sacrifice of life.  It was a war for dominance, but not just for land, but also for religion. 

I am so weary of violence, destruction, war, on this planet. Maybe it's simply a fact of life on earth and will never end. Like plagues have, the loss of men who went to war dramatically allowed the marriage or remarriage between classes of people and inheritance.

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CASTLE FUZER BUILT DURING THE OTTOMAN WARS : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #23

HUNGARIAN OTTOMAN WARS : FUZER CASTLE

Castle Fuzer was a defense castle at Fuze and was paced on a volcanic mountain before the death of King Andras II in 1235 by members of the Aba Clan.  This link to provides us a history of the noble families that owned the castle, which is located above Tokaj wine country and south of Kassa (not in Slovakia.)  Among the highlights of this history is that the sacred crown of Hungary was hidden in the castle for a year in 1526,  In 1567 it went into the hands of the Bathory family, which you may know because of Elizabeth Bathory, known as the countess who was said to have murdered many servant girls.  (A story that has been disputed.)  She got the castle in 1603.

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.

HUNGARIAN-OTTOMAN WARS! CASTLES! HISTORY! AMAZING WEB SITE BY GÁBOR SZÁNTAI

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Here's a little taste, a history of Szepes (origin of the word is Latin) Hungarian Ottoman Wars - Szepes