The battle of Sárrét - battle report

Hungarian wargamers organized an annual historical wargame event called "Historikum". I have participated several times. This year - together with one of my hobbyst friends - we replayed the battle of Sárrét. The date of the battle was October 1601, so this autumn is the 420th anniversary. Even the battle was located near the city of Székesfehérvár - where the Historikum event was held. It was time for my slowly growing 28mm Ottoman Turkish army to undergo the baptism of fire, because most of its units were painted 3-4 years ago, but never been even in a single battle.

The battle of Sárrét was one of the decisive battles of the Long Turkish War (also called as Fifteen Years War). The war was fought between the Habsburg Monarchy and the Ottoman Empire from 1593 to 1606 over the territory of Hungary. Huge parts of Hungary were occupied by the Ottomans in the 16th century, and the other parts of the country fell under the influence of the Habsburgs. The two superpowers set up frontiers to protect themselves. However time for peace has not come, both sides tried to gain territory from the other. The goal of the Ottomans was to conquer more parts of Europe such as the city of Vienna. The Habsburgs were the legal kings of Hungary, because they inherited the throne before. But most parts of Hungary were under Ottoman rule, so Habsburgs wanted to get their legacy. A costly and bloody war begun which lasted for 15 years and devastated the area with a little gain for either side.

During the second half of the war, in 1601 Habsburg forces successfully conquered the city of Székesfehérvár and laid an other siege on Nagykanizsa. The Ottomans launched an army of ca. 50.000 soldiers to rescue the situation. A Christian force (ca. 15.000) commanded by Philippe-Emmanuel de Lorraine (the Duke of Mercœur) still camped near Székesfehérvár after the successfull siege. Hasan Yemişçi, the Ottoman Pasha led his troops directly towards them.

The first clashes started on the 9th of October. The Christian army camped near the village of Csókakő, while the Turks tried to chase them and retake the city. The battle was fought in the valleys and on the hills west from the city of Székesfehérvár and lasted for the 25th of October. Casual encounters happened between the two sides, but not a constant battle. Between the 10th and the 13th of October, the Duke ordered his troops to fortificate their camp and to build a forward position at the hill of Tatár-kő. Hasan Pasha did not hesitate and led his army against the hill. This was the part of the battle which we wanted to reconstruct with our figures (we do not have information on the exact setup of the battle, so mostly our own decisions defined the game):

The Christian forward position on the Tatar Hill consisted of an artillery battery which was guarded by a unit of Hungarian hajdú soldiers (light frontier infantry). The main Habsburg army get out of the camp and arrayed behind the hill. It had two infatry and two cavalry brigades. The Ottomans assaulted the Christian position on the whole battlefield. Ottoman left flank consisted of Akinji and Tatar cavalry. Janissary and Azab infantry was positioned in the centrum - just in front of the hill. Timarli Sipahi cavalry made up the right flank.

Table setup

The Habsburg Army

Christian forward position on the Tatar Hill

Ottoman Army arrrayed for battle

Akinji an Tatar riders were the first who charged the enemy. A huge mass of light cavalry was charging against the Christian lines. However a massive pike block of Habsburg soldiers stopped their advance. The Tatar riders tried to trick the counter-charging carabinier cavalry with a feighned flight. A cavalry melee started while the Imperial musketeers fired solid volleys to the ranks of the Akinjis.

Advancing Akinji ant Tatar cavalry led by a Bey

Vineyard with Tatars in the background. The Mór valley where the battle was fought is one of the main Hungarian wine regions.

Charging Tatars

The Ottoman light cavalry is approaching the enemy

Western mercenaries waiting for the enemy to charge in

Carabinier cavalry charges the Turks

In the centrum the Janissary and Azab infantry advanced towards the hill, while the Christian artillery tried to stop them. However the Ottoman artillery successfully challanged its counterpart and together with the Janissary musketeers and bowmen caused terrible losses to the defenders. Meanwhile only a few Ottoman soldiers lost their lives during the assault.

View of the attacking Ottoman Army from the perspective of the defenders of the Tatar Hill

Janissaries moved forward

Turkish artillery position with camel

Ottoman infantry storming the hill

On the right flank the skilled Sipahi horsemen approached the enemy lines. The Duke of Mercœur sent his cuirassier cavalry to stop them. The Turkish cavalry proved to be superior both in numbers and skill, therefore after a couple of clashes they routed the Christian riders. At this moment the advance of the Sipahis threatened the flank of the Christian infantry. However the Turks needed time to rally their troops after the exhausting cavalry combat. Nevertheless they were not very keen on charging a solid block of pikes supported by musketeers.

Timarli Sipahi cavalry

German cuirassiers countercharging the Sipahis

The Ottoman Sipahis successfully routed the German cavalry and threatened the enemy with encirclement

For this time most of the light cavalry of the Ottoman left wing was routed or killed. Only one unit remained and tried to hinder the advancing Christian pikemen and cavalry with their bows. Things were different in the center: the solid valley fires of the Jannissaries killed most of the Habsburg gun crew and routed the Hungarian hajdú infantry off the hill. Climbing the slope took time of the Ottomans. The Azabs successfully overrun the enemy position and attacked the rallying hajdú infantry on the other side of the hill. By this achievment Hasan Serdar was able to send a part of his Janissaries to the left wing to support the threatened Akinji cavalry. Janissaries held their ground and fired their muskets to the approaching pike block and cavalry. With their bravery they could put to flight the cavalry of the Christian right.

Akinjis in a nasty situation

Hasan Yemişçi urging forward his Janissaries  to help the Akinji cavalry

Janissaries vs European mercenaries

Azab infantry overran the Christian position on the hill and charged the hajdús

By the end of the Turkish advance, the Habsburg Army had been placed into an unfavorable situation. Most of their cavalry left the battlefield, only their infantry formations remained intact. Their lost their position on the Tatar hill with half of their artillery. In the same time the Ottomans successfully took position on the hill, routed the Christian left wing and Sipahis were about to encircle their infantry. The Turks only lost less valuable troops like Akinjis, Tatars and Azabs, their elite Jannissaries and Sipahis were capable of fighting till the end of the battle. Recognising the situation, the Duke ordered his troops to retreat in order. The Ottomans gained victory in the battle.

In reality the Turks also could occupy the Tatar Hill, but they were driven back by the Christian counter-attack. Hasan Pasha tried to drive away the Habsburgs several times, but he did not succeed. The weather was already too rainy, the terrain was muddy (Sárrét means muddy field in Hungarian) and it was late in the campaigning season. On the 25th of October the Serdar ordered his troops to retreat back to the Balkan. So in 1601 the Habsburgs could conquer the city of Székesfehérvár and even protect it. The following year Hasan Yemişçi retook the city which symbolises the pointlessness of the Long Turkish War for both sides.