Wilfully Run Our Head Against the Wall: The 1684 Campaign of the War of the Holy League (1682-1699) and the Failed Siege of Buda

The failed siege of Buda reveals how political decisions and numerical limits undermined a major Christian attempt to expel Ottoman forces from Hungary.

The 1683 attack on Vienna reminded Europe what a danger the Ottoman Empire posed. Despite the additional threat to the Habsburg Monarchy (the 'Imperialists') and the Holy Roman Empire from the other direction, Louis XIV's France, the Emperor Leopold resolved to build on the 1683 alliance with Poland and try to drive the Ottomans out of Hungary. Venice joined in, and with vigorous support from Pope Innocent XI the 'Holy League' was formed in 1684, the first serious joint Christian attempt at a counter-attack against the Ottomans since 1444. Unfortunately, the French threat delayed an immediate full commitment of forces, and the campaign became an example of appallingly bad decision-making.

Buda, the medieval capital of Hungary and since 1541 the forward base for the Ottomans in Hungary, was an obvious target, and with its antiquated defences seemed, to western officers accustomed to contemporary artillery fortification, a push-over. After initial victories in battle, the Imperialist army reached Buda. Ignoring the opinion of the only really qualified commander present, Ernst Rudiger von Starhemberg, political generals under Louis of Baden pushed through a decision to attack the fortress, expecting to take it in days, although their army had insufficient infantry, artillery and engineers for a siege. Days turned into months, with growing casualties and no prospect of success; the arrival of significant reinforcements under Elector Maximilian Emanuel of Bavaria should have helped, but he started a fresh attack against the strongest part of the defences. The Christian army eventually retreated with a death-toll of 23,000.

Alongside the main campaign, the Imperialists operated smaller flanking armies that achieved minor successes: fighting the Hungarian rebels under Imre Th