Hetman
05-05-2004, 08:41
At the beginning of the 30-years war teh Emperor's forces were in defensive. A very important factor at that time was the army of Hungarian leader Betholen Gabor which joined Czech forces and besieged Vienna.
At that time in Poland ruled Sigismund III - supercatholic and intolerant thus very unpopular in this country and even though he was never able to change the tradition of tolerance he tried and of course he lost but not without severe consequences. Although it is often said that Polish kings were weak and because of that the country was not so powerful as it should be, very often it was just the opposite, as it was in 1619 for example. Maybe it was just to early to expect that a monarch would agree to serve not to rule the whole nation.
Because the Polish king was considered Habsburg ally, even though the country wasn't, he was able to help using so called 'Lisowczyk' mercenaries who after the cease-fire with Russia where without employment.
They were really the scum of the Polish society - criminals, former soldiers, poverty-stricken minor nobles and others. During the war against Russia ( 1610-1618) they were made into a very effective light cavalry and although eager to plunder still disciplined enough to be trusted on any battlefield.
So when the Emperor asked for help Sigismund sent the mercenaries thus killing two birds with one stone - helped the Emperor and got rid of the troublesome soldiers.
The mercenaries crossed the mountains and arrived to Hungary. On 21st of November 1619 they defeated Hungarian army at Humienn and after that 'travelled' through defenceless country. The besieging forces of course
retreated and Viena was saved by Polish for the first time.
There were several consequences.
1. The 30-years war continued.
2. The Ottomans were anraged and soon started the war against Poland which they lost, but because of the war Poland wasn't able to hold the Swedes and lost Riga.
3. Sigismund III achieved nothing important and was even more unpopular.
The question is that I need more sources relating to the battle.
Especially I'm asking Hungarian, Turkish and Austrian members for any more details relating to the battle at Humienn on November 21st 1619.
Regards Cegorach/Hetman http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif
At that time in Poland ruled Sigismund III - supercatholic and intolerant thus very unpopular in this country and even though he was never able to change the tradition of tolerance he tried and of course he lost but not without severe consequences. Although it is often said that Polish kings were weak and because of that the country was not so powerful as it should be, very often it was just the opposite, as it was in 1619 for example. Maybe it was just to early to expect that a monarch would agree to serve not to rule the whole nation.
Because the Polish king was considered Habsburg ally, even though the country wasn't, he was able to help using so called 'Lisowczyk' mercenaries who after the cease-fire with Russia where without employment.
They were really the scum of the Polish society - criminals, former soldiers, poverty-stricken minor nobles and others. During the war against Russia ( 1610-1618) they were made into a very effective light cavalry and although eager to plunder still disciplined enough to be trusted on any battlefield.
So when the Emperor asked for help Sigismund sent the mercenaries thus killing two birds with one stone - helped the Emperor and got rid of the troublesome soldiers.
The mercenaries crossed the mountains and arrived to Hungary. On 21st of November 1619 they defeated Hungarian army at Humienn and after that 'travelled' through defenceless country. The besieging forces of course
retreated and Viena was saved by Polish for the first time.
There were several consequences.
1. The 30-years war continued.
2. The Ottomans were anraged and soon started the war against Poland which they lost, but because of the war Poland wasn't able to hold the Swedes and lost Riga.
3. Sigismund III achieved nothing important and was even more unpopular.
The question is that I need more sources relating to the battle.
Especially I'm asking Hungarian, Turkish and Austrian members for any more details relating to the battle at Humienn on November 21st 1619.
Regards Cegorach/Hetman http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/gc-help.gif