Battle of Humenné facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Humenné |
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| Part of the Thirty Years' War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
Polish mercenary army Holy Roman Empire Habsburg Hungary |
 Principality of Transylvania |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Walenty Rogawski | George Rákóczi | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 8,000-10,000 | 3,500-7,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 650-2,500 | 850-3,000 | ||||||
The Battle of Humenné was a fight that happened on November 22–23, 1619. It took place near a town called Humenné in eastern Slovakia. This battle was part of the early stages of the Thirty Years' War.
In this battle, an army from Transylvania fought against combined forces. These forces included loyal Hungarian soldiers and Polish troops known as the Lisowczycy. This was the only battle in the Thirty Years' War where the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was involved.
The Polish cavalry, led by Walenty Rogawski, won the battle. They defeated the Transylvanian forces, which were commanded by George Rákóczi. He later became the Prince of Transylvania.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
The Thirty Years' War Begins
The Thirty Years' War was a big conflict in Europe. Many nations in the Holy Roman Empire saw it as a chance to become independent. One of these nations was Hungary. It was led by Gábor Bethlen, who was the Prince of Transylvania.
Hungary Joins the Fight
Gábor Bethlen joined forces with Bohemia. They were part of a group called the Protestant Union, which was against the Habsburg rulers. Bethlen quickly took control of northern Hungary and the city of Bratislava. By November, he began to surround Vienna. Vienna was the capital city of Austria and the Holy Roman Empire.
The Emperor Asks for Help
The situation for Emperor Ferdinand II was very serious. He needed help. The Emperor sent a letter to Sigismund III of Poland, the King of Poland. He asked the King to cut off Bethlen's supply lines from Transylvania.
Poland's Role in the Conflict
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth usually stayed neutral in this war. However, King Sigismund III supported the Catholic League and the Habsburgs. So, he decided to help the Emperor. He did not send his own army directly. Instead, he allowed a Hungarian noble, George Drugeth of Homonna, to hire soldiers in Poland.
Drugeth was a former rival of Bethlen. He was now an important judge in Royal Hungary. He hired about 8,000 Lisowczycy mercenaries, who were led by Rogawski. Drugeth also brought his own 3,000 soldiers. Together, this army had around 11,000 men, though the exact number is debated.
The Battle of Humenné
First Contact
The Lisowczycy cavalry met George Rákóczi's troops. This happened near Humenné in the Carpathian Mountains. It was the evening of November 22. At first, Walenty Rogawski struggled to keep his cavalry together. His troops split up.
The Attack
The next day, November 23, Rákóczi made a decision. He sent his infantry soldiers to raid the enemy's camp. While they were busy looting, Rogawski finally managed to gather his scattered troops. He then launched a surprise attack on the Transylvanians.
Victory for the Poles
The attack was quick and effective. Rákóczi soon had to order his soldiers to retreat. The Polish forces won the battle.
What Happened Next
Bethlen's Retreat
When Gábor Bethlen learned that Rákóczi had been defeated, he had to change his plans. He stopped surrounding Vienna. He gathered his soldiers and went back to Bratislava. He also sent about 12,000 cavalry soldiers to northern Hungary. These troops, led by George Széchy, were meant to protect the area from the Lisowczycy.
Peace is Made
Emperor Ferdinand II then made Bethlen sign a cease-fire. This was a temporary stop to the fighting. On January 16, 1620, they signed a peace treaty in Pozsony, which is now Bratislava.
Saving Vienna
The Battle of Humenné was very important. The Polish help saved Vienna, the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, from being taken by Transylvania. Because of this, some Polish historians call it the first Vienna relief. The more famous "second Vienna relief" was the Battle of Vienna in 1683.
See also
- Moldavian Magnate Wars
Sources
