"the infidels suffered a defeat of such magnitude that it cannot even be described", the Siege of Žrnov, April-May 1515

Last weekend one of my re-enactment friends, Phil, joined me for an off season catch up and a wargame. We thought it would be fun to refight a clash that took place just south of Belgrade in 1515. Much of what we know about the clash that took place outside Žrnov is taken from a letter written by Prince Suleiman, before he was Sultan, and can be found in the appendix to this article about one of the battles protagonists, Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, https://www.academia.edu/40391429/Wolf_on_the_Border_Yahyapa%C5%9Fao%C4%9Flu_Bali_Bey_1527_. I would recommend giving it a read as it really helps to capture the flavour of this period and the clashes that took place along the border between the Kingdom of Hungary and the Ottoman Empire.

We wanted the game to look like a big battle yet not take all day so the scenario we played did not have many units but we used lots of figures to represent each unit. This gave a suitably large scale look but meant we could finish our game in under three hours. As you will see things did not go the way of the historical battle!

"They shot it with their cannons from several places and opened gaps". The walls of Žrnov have been battered by the Hungarian artillery.

 "the depraved infidels marched against the fortress called Havale and surrounded it". The Hungarian camp before the walls of Žrnov known to the Ottomans as Havale.

The Ottoman garrison of Žrnov look out from the walls of the fortress hoping to see the arrival of a relief army.

The Siege of Žrnov, April-May 1515

The location of Serbia's "Monument to the Unknown Hero" on the top of the Avala Mountain, lying to the south of Belgrade, was once the site of the medieval fortress of Žrnov. It first fell to the Ottomans in 1442 but having been returned to the Serbs following the Peace of Szeged, in 1444, it was then recaptured in 1458. Being so close to Belgrade the Ottomans had used the fort as a counter to the city and it had become a stronghold from which they could disrupt communications with Šabac, which lay downstream from Belgrade on the Sava river.

Following the Hungarian defeat at the battle of Mohacs in 1526 John Zápolya would become a contender to the Hungarian throne (see https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2021/08/tarcal-1527.html and https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2024/02/szina-1528.html) but prior to this he was key to the defence of Hungary's contested border with the Ottomans. Zápolya was made voevode of Transylvania by the Hungarian King, Vladislaus, in November 1510. It was in this role with the aid of some of the local nobility and bans, these being the military governors of the Hungarian Kingdom's outlying territories, that Zápolya led an army to besiege Žrnov in the spring of 1515. In his excellent "From Nicopolis to Mohács: A History of Ottoman-Hungarian Warfare, 1389-1526", Tamás Pálosfalvi states "At the end of April the voevode, István Bátori, the bans of Belgrade (Imre Török and Mihály Paksi), that of Šabac (Gáspár Paksi), and some of the southern lords such as the Jakšić and the Szakolyi entered Ottoman territory “with a good number of troops,” and laid siege to the castle of Žrnov". 

It seems Zápolya thought that the regional Ottoman forces were engaged in a campaign in Bosnia, indeed some of them had launched an attack to the south west which would result in the Ottomans occupying the castles of Bočac and Kotor in May 1515, and because of this he paid little regard to the idea that they would attempt to relieve Žrnov. Zápolya and his army were thus caught by surprise when the Ottoman Sanjakbey of Semendire, Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, led an army drawn from troops in Rumelia to relieve the fortress. Zápolya and his forces bombarded the walls of Žrnov and the defenders of the fortress feared it would fall to an assault. In a letter that no lesser a figure than Suleiman the Magnificent himself, at the time Prince Suleiman as he was not yet Sultan, wrote to the pashas of the imperial council based on Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey’s reports Suleiman stated (translated to English):

"The sancakbeyis were just about to have the sipahi and akıncı troops march to Semendire when the depraved infidels marched against the fortress called Havale (Žrnov) and surrounded it. They shot it with their cannons from several places and opened gaps. Before the other sancakbeyis could join Bali Bey, the servants of your eminences, sancakbeyis Mesih of Vidin, Ahmed of Alacahisar, Kasım of Prizren and Hacı of İzvornik arrived there and held a council. They planned to await the other beys and together they would take up the fight against the infidels. However, the defenders of Havale then sent a messenger down from the aforenamed fortress and informed the beys that if they did not arrive there by the next day, then – since they had no more men and they had no strength to fight – an assault would be launched against the fortress."

With no time to spare Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey could not await the arrival of further reinforcements and so an assault was made on the Hungarian siege lines. The Ottoman infantry attacked the Hungarian infantry and siege guns whilst the Sanjakbey's cavalry attacked the Hungarian cavalry who counter charged out of the Hungarian camp. Prince Suleiman's report describes the action, although I think we can take the "20,000 armored cavalry" from the Hungarian camp as an exaggeration: 

"The sancakbeyis, the servants of your eminences, disregarding the dearth of people of Islam and the multitude of infidels and asking incessantly for divine mercy and for the help of the holy spirit of his holiness the prophet – may his name be glorified! – and knowing that the exalted support and superior power of the padishah, the refuge of the world, were with them, placed alongside the close relatives of the aforenamed Bali Bey, the servants of your eminences, the ziamet-holder Bali and Rüstem, the azab ağası and beşlü ağası and in addition the most valiant and brave soldiers of Semendire, who as infantrymen attacked the foot soldiers standing alongside the cannons of the infidels positioned below the fortress and dispersed them. The sancakbeyis arrived in their tracks and assailed the camp of the infidels. As they began to fight, around 20,000 armoured cavalry rushed out from the camp of the infidels and an enormous battle took place from morning until afternoon. The infidel cavalry could not hold out, again withdrew to the camp and for a while fought from there. Finally, the multitude of flags bearing the sign of divine assistance and the deterrent spectacle of the heroes who enjoyed the abundant and miraculous support of the saints threw fear into the cavalry and the infantry of the infidels and unable to resist the effort of the fighters for the faith, they surrendered their camp."

Prince Suleiman's report continues to describe how the defeated Hungarians were chased back to Belgrade with many being killed, becoming "the food of the steely, shining sword" whilst others were captured and imprisoned. The brothers Mihály and Gáspár Paksi, being the bans of Belgrade and Szabács, were both killed whilst 600-700 wagons and all the Hungarian artillery and siege equipment was captured. Zápolya, who Suleiman describes as "The accursed known as the ban of Transylvania" managed to escape the disaster:

"Then through the mercy and support of God in the prosperous days of his majesty the sovereign, the army of the infidels scattered and much of it became the food of the steely, shining sword, while those infidels who escaped the saber were placed in shackles and locked in the fortress. The infidels left behind 600–700 camp wagons, all of their shields, cannons, flags, and tents as well as their other military equipment and instruments and, defeated and hopeless, took to their heels. Our fighters for the faith raised the flag of victorious Islam and assailed the infidels all the way until Belgrade, taking the heads of the ban of Belgrade Mihály Paksi and the ban of Szabács. The accursed known as the ban of Transylvania managed to escape with a few thousand infidels and gathering all his strength fled to the fortress of Belgrade. During the prosperous time of his majesty the padishah –the shadow of Allah on earth – the infidels suffered a defeat of such magnitude that it cannot even be described."

Once Belgrade fell to the Ottomans in 1521 (https://camisado1500s.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-siege-of-belgrade-1521.html) Žrnov would loose its strategic importance. Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey and his akinji would play a key role in the Battle of Mohacs in 1526, whilst John Zápolya, who did not fight at Mohacs, would become king of eastern Hungary after his clashes with Ferdinand of Hapsburg following that same fateful Hungarian defeat in 1526.

A view of the table with the walls of Žrnov at the top and the camp of John Zápolya on the left with his army deployed in front. On the right is the Rumelian army of Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey.

A view of the Hungarian army deployed below the siege guns.

John Zápolya hastily leads the Hungarian army out the camp to the face the Ottoman threat.

Scenario

Phil is much more a re-enactor and fan of late medieval history than a wargamer so the game was played out as a straightforward battle with victory going to the first player to halve the opponents army. If this happened to both players on the same turn then the game would be a draw.

We used a modified version of Lion Rampant for the rules but with much bigger units as described above. Although the figure count was higher each cavalry unit still counted as 6 figures and each infantry unit as 12 figures. The battle took place in front of the Hungarian camp and siege lines. Following the description of events in Prince Suleiman's letter each player had to deploy their infantry forces opposing one another beneath the Hungarian guns and the cavalry forces in front of the Hungarian Camp facing one another.

The Armies

John Zápolya, voevode of Transylvania, and the Hungarian besieging army

1 Unit of Gendarmes (Includes retinue leader John Zápolya, voevode of Transylvania)

1 Unit of Men at Arms (Under command of István Bátori, Count of Temesvár)

2 Units of Hussars

1 Unit of Balkan Cavalry

1 Unit of Pavise Infantry with crossbows

2 Units of Pavise Infantry with arquebuses

Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, Sanjakbey of Semendire, and the Ottoman relief army

1 Unit of Delis (Includes retinue leader Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, Sanjakbey of Semendire)

3 Units of Sipahis

3 Units of Akinji

1 Unit of Voynuks

1 Unit of Azab Infantry

1 Unit of Azab Archers

This was a fairly quick game so there are as many photos of the initial set up as of the battle itself! As always the captions below the photos are a good way to follow the action and a brief write up of events also follows.

John Zápolya, the "accursed known as the ban of Transylvania" and his gendarmes take up position behind the hussars.

Another unit of hussars emerges from the camp.

István Bátori (Stephen VII Báthory) prepares his men at arms.

The Ottoman akinji and sipahis arrive in front of the Hungarian camp.

"The sancakbeyis arrived in their tracks and assailed the camp of the infidels."

The two forces face each other below the walls of Žrnov.

Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, Sanjakbey of Semendire, takes up position behind the Rumelian sipahis and voynuk infantry.

The Ottoman infantry and cavalry prepare to attack.

Bali Bey's army moves first, charging the Hungarians.

István Bátori, Count of Temesvár, leads a thunderous charge into the akinji on the Ottoman left flank and scatters them.

At Zápolya's command the Hungarians begin to push forward.

"As they began to fight, around 20,000 armoured cavalry rushed out from the camp of the infidels and an enormous battle took place from morning until afternoon."

A wall of Hungarian infantry advances. They are well protected from the Ottoman arrows by their pavises.

To the sound of booming drums the Rumelian army of the Sanjakbey of Semendire, Yahyapaşaoğlu Bali Bey, emerged before the walls of the beleaguered fortress of Žrnov. The alarm sounded in the Hungarian camp and John Zápolya's army quickly prepared for battle as it became clear that the camp was under attack. Some of the akinji of Bali Bey's army rode forward trying to draw the Hungarian cavalry from out of their fortified camp so they could be defeated in the open. Initially the akinji succeeded and a unit of hussars were drawn out and quickly defeated. Eager to avenge their countrymen the men at arms under István Bátori, Count of Temesvár, then gave chase. The speed of the men at arms took the akinji by surprise and they were caught by the armoured cavalry as they attempted to evade them. István Bátori's men rode straight through the foremost unit of akinji, sending them in flight from the battlefield.

István Bátori and his men were now surrounded by Ottoman cavalry and it looked as if they would be quickly overwhelmed. Under Bátori's wolf’s teeth and dragon banner his men at arms held firm and took the fight to the centre of Bali Bey's left flank. In the series of fierce cavalry melees that followed some of Bátori's men fell but they succeeded in driving all of Bali Beys akinji from the field. The left flank of the Ottoman army had been broken by the heroic charge of one unit of men at arms!

Bali Bey's forces continue to advance.

The skirmishing attacks of the akinji have broken one of the units of hussars. To avenge them István Bátori charges into the attacking akinji...

...who fail to evade him and are defeated. Bátori's cavalry then crash into yet more akinji causing chaos on the Ottoman left flank.

Bali Bey's left flank crumbles as István Bátori's men at arms charge into the Ottoman lines. 

Closer to the castle walls the voynuks are subjected to a rain of bolts from the Hungarian infantry. The morale of the voynuks fails and they flee the battlefield.

The rest of the Ottoman infantry then face a hail of shot and bolts from the Hungarian lines.

Zápolya's infantry push forward as the Ottomans start to be driven back.

István Bátori and his men regroup having defeated three units of akinji.

Whilst a vicious cavalry battle raged on the Ottoman left flank the Hungarians advanced on Bali Bey's infantry on the Ottoman right. Under the cover of their pavises the Hungarian infantry, protecting their gun battery which continued to bombard the walls of Žrnov, advanced to within range of the voynuks and azabs who faced them. Coming under a withering rain of crossbow bolts the heavily armoured voynuks advanced on Zápolya's infantry confident that they could reach them and drive them from the field. 

As the voynuks advanced they suffered more casualties despite their armour. The voynuks nerve failed and they fled. At the same time, having initially had some morale issues themselves, the Hungarian arquebusiers advanced to within range of the azabs and opened fire. The azabs fell back attempting to avoid the hail of shot but this only encouraged the Hungarians to advance. The azabs were driven from the field and the Ottoman right flank collapsed. In the centre of the Ottoman lines Bali Bey, surrounded by his sipahis and delis realised all was lost. His troops were still fresh but so was the Hungarian centre. John Zápolya, the "accursed known as the ban of Transylvania", and his gendarmes had yet to even leave the cover of their camp. The relief of Žrnov had failed and Bali Bey withdrew, leaving the garrison to it fate. 

Thanks to the heroic charge of István Bátori the Hungarian army did not become "the food of the steely, shining sword" and did not suffer "a defeat of such magnitude that it cannot even be described"!

Things are not looking good for Bali Bey and his Rumelian army!

The Ottoman infantry continue to be driven back by bolts and shot from the Hungarian infantry...

...and the whole of the Ottoman attack has been stalled.

Having lost too many of his men in the attack Bali Bey breaks off his attempt to relieve Žrnov. He abandon's the field leaving the garrison of Žrnov to their fate.

This game made for a fun morning and, much to Phil's amusement, a total defeat for my Ottomans! Phil lost one unit of men at arms whilst all my akinji and my best infantry were quickly sent fleeing from the field. My plan had been to avoid the Hungarian infantry and draw the Hungarian cavalry out into a fight where my skirmishers and sipahis, all armed with bows, would be able to defeat them. I did not count on István Bátori's men at arms charging in and completely destroying my left flank as my akinji kept failing to evade! Phil was also quick to realise that he could advance the Hungarian infantry and slowly degrade my opposing infantry with his crossbowmen and arquebusiers.

We felt the plan to use big units but a low unit count to fight a quicker game worked really well. The table looked suitably dramatic whilst the game was manageable although had my army not crumbled so quickly it could have gone on for a bit longer. Of course Phil and I felt we had to bring a touch of re-enactment to the wargame and as Phil has a pavise and crossbow we couldn't refight this battle without a photo of the "generals" taking up position in the Hungarian infantry line!

The "generals" take up position behind a pavise and prepare to defend themselves with spear and crossbow!