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The Awakening of Europe, 43. The Siege of Vienna by the Turks

43. The Siege of Vienna by the Turks

"Think with what passionate delight The tale was told in Christian halls How Sobieski turned to flight The Moslem from Vienna's walls." —LORD HOUGHTON.

Among the great names that fill the stage of Europe in the last quarter of the seventeenth century—William III., King of England and Holland; Louis XIV., King of France; Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia; and Charles XII. of Sweden—the name of John Sobieski, King of Poland, must not be forgotten. Sobieski was a national hero rather than a great king. He might well have belonged to the old crusading days, for his head, even now, was full of crusading ideas. With other Christian rulers he watched the growth of Mohammedanism over Western Europe with increasing anxiety.

For the last two hundred years the Ottoman empire had stood high among the Powers of Europe. Greece was subject to Turkey; parts of Hungary, Austria, and Russia owned her sway. Now in the year 1683 the Turks were marching on Austria's capital, Vienna, and Vienna was totally unprepared for a siege. The Emperor of Austria was no soldier, so he removed his court to a place some fifteen miles away and calmly awaited events. The Viennese now turned to Sobieski, the King of Poland, a well-known champion of the Christians, a well-known hater of the Turks. The fate of Austria hung on his reply. To Sobieski the appeal had all the old romance of the Crusades.

"Yes," he answered in haste, "I will come and help you." And "flinging his powerful frame into the saddle and his great soul into the cause," the King of Poland began eagerly to recruit his scattered army. Meanwhile the defence of the city was intrusted to Count Starhemberg. He instantly set all hands to work.

"Set fire to the suburbs," he ordered. "They shall not serve as cover to the enemy." The flames rose high around the city, a wind sprang up, and Vienna herself had a narrow escape of being burned to the ground. Presently the main force of the enemy appeared on the plain in front of Vienna. In a short time thousands of Turkish tents had sprung up, and the camp was alive with bustle and excitement. The tents of the Grand Vizier, or Prime Minister, were conspicuous with their green silk worked in gold and silver, their pearls and precious stones, their gorgeous Eastern carpets. Around them were arranged baths, fountains, flower-gardens, and even a menagerie of animals. From time to time the Grand Vizier, in gorgeously embroidered robes, was carried out in a litter to inspect the works.

The siege had begun in real earnest. Assault followed assault. Day by day Stahremberg climbed up the lofty fretted spire of the cathedral church in the heart of Vienna; he looked gloomily over the busy Turkish camp and owned sadly to himself that the Turks were gaining ground inch by inch. Sickness and famine followed, and still Sobieski did not come.

Sobieski had left Poland a few days after the siege had begun in July, but the way was long; he himself was stout and heavy. It was the end of August before he reached the outskirts of Vienna. Here he found a little crowd of German princes awaiting him, together with Duke Charles of Lorraine, ancestor of the Imperial House of Austria. Here was the Hanoverian prince, afterwards George I. of England; here was Eugene of Savoy, the colleague of Marlborough at Blenheim; here were men who had fought in the battle of the Boyne, veterans of the Thirty Years' War,—all united in a common cause. "We have not come to save a single city, but the whole of Christendom," said John Sobieski, as preparations for an attack on the Turks went forward. Marching to within four miles of Vienna, the Christian army occupied the heights of the Kahlenberg.

The sun was just setting on the evening of September 11 when Sobieski and his generals stood on the crest of the hill. They could hear the Turkish cannonade raging vigorously, they could hear the feeble reply from the despairing garrison within the town. But Sobieski's rockets from the Kahlenberg brought new hope to the brave defenders, and Stahremberg despatched a messenger with a few urgent words: "No time to be lost!—no time indeed to be lost!" Morning dawned misty and hot. The fate of Vienna depended on the events of the day. The army of the Christians began with a solemn service in the little chapel on the heights of the Kahlen-berg. Then a standard with a white cross on a red ground was unfurled amid shouts of enthusiasm, and the leaders of the great army moved forward. The sky-blue doublet of John Sobieski marked him out above his fellows, as the descent of the wooded slopes towards Vienna began.

The Grand Vizier's preparations for the battle were somewhat different. He slaughtered thirty thousand captives in cold blood and then ordered the advance.

Down the slopes poured the Christian army like a whirlwind, while the shout, "Long live Sobieski!" rolled along the lines. With all their faults the Turks did not know cowardice; they fought as brave men, but they could not withstand the rush of the Christian army.

"Can you not help me?" cried the Vizier in despair to one of his pashas.

"No," was the answer. "I know the King of Poland. It is impossible to resist him. Think only of flight." Panic-stricken, the Turks fled, away through the wasted suburbs of Vienna, towards the frontier of Hungary. The Grand Vizier, weeping and cursing by turns, was hurried along with the stream.

By evening communication with Vienna was established, and Stahremberg led forth his starving garrison to greet his deliverers. Amid the shouts of the people John Sobieski entered Vienna, the city which he had saved from the Turks.

"How will the Emperor receive him?" the people asked in their joy; "for he has saved the empire." They might well question. The Emperor received the deliverer of his people with a few cold words in Latin, for he was jealous of Sobieski's success. The King of Poland saw how matters stood. With a courteous chivalry that might have belonged to the middle ages, he saluted the Austrian emperor.

"I am happy, sire, to have been able to render you this slight service," he said simply. A general chorus of admiration and thanksgiving arose from Europe. John Sobieski had not only saved Austria's capital, but he had destroyed the growing power of Turkey and forced the Mohammedans back to their own dominions.

43. The Siege of Vienna by the Turks ||||||Ottoman Empire forces 43. Die Belagerung Wiens durch die Türken 43. El asedio de Viena por los turcos 43. O cerco de Viena pelos turcos 43. Осада Вены турками 43. Viyana'nın Türkler Tarafından Kuşatılması 43. Облога Відня турками 43. 土耳其人围攻维也纳 43. 土耳其人圍攻維也納

"Think with what passionate delight The tale was told in Christian halls How Sobieski turned to flight The Moslem from Vienna's walls." |||intense emotional|Intense pleasure||||||follower of Christ||||forced to retreat||||Muslim invaders||Vienna's walls| —LORD HOUGHTON. |Lord Houghton

Among the great names that fill the stage of Europe in the last quarter of the seventeenth century—William III., King of England and Holland; Louis XIV., King of France; Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia; and Charles XII. |||||||||the continent||||||||||||||||King of France|Fourteenth|||||||Emperor of Russia|||||Charles the Twelfth Tra i grandi nomi che riempiono il palcoscenico dell'Europa nell'ultimo quarto del XVII secolo, Guglielmo III, re d'Inghilterra e d'Olanda, Luigi XIV, re di Francia, Pietro il Grande, zar di Russia, e Carlo XII. of Sweden—the name of John Sobieski, King of Poland, must not be forgotten. ||||||John Sobieski||||||| Sobieski was a national hero rather than a great king. |||||more so than|||| He might well have belonged to the old crusading days, for his head, even now, was full of crusading ideas. ||very likely||been part of||||zealous campaigning spirit||||||||||| With other Christian rulers he watched the growth of Mohammedanism over Western Europe with increasing anxiety. |||||||||Islamic faith||||||growing concern

For the last two hundred years the Ottoman empire had stood high among the Powers of Europe. |||||||Ottoman Empire||||||||| For the last two hundred years the Ottoman empire had stood high among the Powers of Europe. Greece was subject to Turkey; parts of Hungary, Austria, and Russia owned her sway. ||||||||Austrian territories|||||influence or control Now in the year 1683 the Turks were marching on Austria's capital, Vienna, and Vienna was totally unprepared for a siege. The Emperor of Austria was no soldier, so he removed his court to a place some fifteen miles away and calmly awaited events. L'imperatore d'Austria non era un soldato, quindi trasferì la sua corte in un luogo distante una quindicina di chilometri e attese con calma gli eventi. The Viennese now turned to Sobieski, the King of Poland, a well-known champion of the Christians, a well-known hater of the Turks. |people of Vienna||appealed to|||||||||||||||||||| The fate of Austria hung on his reply. To Sobieski the appeal had all the old romance of the Crusades.

"Yes," he answered in haste, "I will come and help you." ||||quickly or hurriedly|||||| And "flinging his powerful frame into the saddle and his great soul into the cause," the King of Poland began eagerly to recruit his scattered army. |throwing himself into||||||horse's seat|||||||the mission||||||||||| And "flinging his powerful frame into the saddle and his great soul into the cause," the King of Poland began eagerly to recruit his scattered army. Meanwhile the defence of the city was intrusted to Count Starhemberg. |||||||entrusted to|||Count Starhemberg He instantly set all hands to work. |immediately||||| Si mise subito al lavoro.

"Set fire to the suburbs," he ordered. ||||residential outskirts|| "They shall not serve as cover to the enemy." The flames rose high around the city, a wind sprang up, and Vienna herself had a narrow escape of being burned to the ground. |||||||||suddenly started||||||||close call|||||| Presently the main force of the enemy appeared on the plain in front of Vienna. At this moment|||||||||||||| In a short time thousands of Turkish tents had sprung up, and the camp was alive with bustle and excitement. |||||||temporary shelters||||||||||activity and noise|| In breve tempo erano sorte migliaia di tende turche e l'accampamento era animato da un gran fermento. The tents of the Grand Vizier, or Prime Minister, were conspicuous with their green silk worked in gold and silver, their pearls and precious stones, their gorgeous Eastern carpets. ||||high-ranking|Prime Minister||chief government official|||easily noticeable|||||||||||||||||| Around them were arranged baths, fountains, flower-gardens, and even a menagerie of animals. |||||||||||collection of animals|| Om hen heen waren baden, fonteinen, bloementuinen en zelfs een menagerie van dieren opgesteld. From time to time the Grand Vizier, in gorgeously embroidered robes, was carried out in a litter to inspect the works. ||||||||sumptuously|decorated with needlework|||||||portable seat|||| Di tanto in tanto il Gran Visir, in abiti splendidamente ricamati, veniva portato in lettiga per ispezionare i lavori. Van tijd tot tijd werd de grootvizier, in prachtig geborduurde gewaden, in een draagstoel gedragen om de werken te inspecteren.

The siege had begun in real earnest. ||||||serious effort L'assedio era iniziato sul serio. Assault followed assault. Day by day Stahremberg climbed up the lofty fretted spire of the cathedral church in the heart of Vienna; he looked gloomily over the busy Turkish camp and owned sadly to himself that the Turks were gaining ground inch by inch. Each day|||a person|ascended|ascended||high and grand|ornamented or decorated|tall tower||||||||||||with despair||||||||||||||||||| Sickness and famine followed, and still Sobieski did not come. Illness||extreme food shortage|||||||

Sobieski had left Poland a few days after the siege had begun in July, but the way was long; he himself was stout and heavy. ||||||||||||||||||||||overweight|| It was the end of August before he reached the outskirts of Vienna. ||||||||||edge of town|| Here he found a little crowd of German princes awaiting him, together with Duke Charles of Lorraine, ancestor of the Imperial House of Austria. ||||||||noble rulers||||||||Region in France|forebear|||||| Here was the Hanoverian prince, afterwards George I. of England; here was Eugene of Savoy, the colleague of Marlborough at Blenheim; here were men who had fought in the battle of the Boyne, veterans of the Thirty Years' War,—all united in a common cause. |||German royal house||later known as|||||||Prince of Savoy||House of Savoy||partner in arms||Duke of Marlborough||Battle of Blenheim||||||||||||Battle of Boyne||||||||||||shared goal "We have not come to save a single city, but the whole of Christendom," said John Sobieski, as preparations for an attack on the Turks went forward. |||||||||||||Christian world|||||arrangements|||||||| Marching to within four miles of Vienna, the Christian army occupied the heights of the Kahlenberg. |||||||||||||||Kahlenberg Heights

The sun was just setting on the evening of September 11 when Sobieski and his generals stood on the crest of the hill. ||||going down||||||||||||||top of hill||| They could hear the Turkish cannonade raging vigorously, they could hear the feeble reply from the despairing garrison within the town. |||||intense artillery fire|fiercely ongoing|with great intensity|||||weak and faint||||losing all hope|defending military force||| But Sobieski's rockets from the Kahlenberg brought new hope to the brave defenders, and Stahremberg despatched a messenger with a few urgent words: "No time to be lost!—no time indeed to be lost!" |Sobieski's rockets||||||||||||||sent||courier||||immediate|||||||||||| Morning dawned misty and hot. |began|foggy|| The fate of Vienna depended on the events of the day. The army of the Christians began with a solemn service in the little chapel on the heights of the Kahlen-berg. ||||||||serious and formal|||||small church||||||Kahlen Mountain|mountain Then a standard with a white cross on a red ground was unfurled amid shouts of enthusiasm, and the leaders of the great army moved forward. ||flag or banner||||||||||opened up|among|loud cheers||great excitement||||||||| The sky-blue doublet of John Sobieski marked him out above his fellows, as the descent of the wooded slopes towards Vienna began. |||fitted jacket||||distinguished||||||||downward movement|||covered with trees|hillsides|||

The Grand Vizier's preparations for the battle were somewhat different. ||chief advisor's||||||| I preparativi del Gran Visir per la battaglia erano un po' diversi. He slaughtered thirty thousand captives in cold blood and then ordered the advance. |killed brutally|||prisoners of war||||||||

Down the slopes poured the Christian army like a whirlwind, while the shout, "Long live Sobieski!" |||rushed down||||||fierce storm|||loud cheer||| rolled along the lines. moved smoothly along||| With all their faults the Turks did not know cowardice; they fought as brave men, but they could not withstand the rush of the Christian army. |||shortcomings||||||lack of bravery||||||||||resist||||||

"Can you not help me?" cried the Vizier in despair to one of his pashas. |||||||||high-ranking officials

"No," was the answer. "I know the King of Poland. It is impossible to resist him. Think only of flight." Panic-stricken, the Turks fled, away through the wasted suburbs of Vienna, towards the frontier of Hungary. ||||||||devastated||||||border or boundary|| The Grand Vizier, weeping and cursing by turns, was hurried along with the stream. |||crying||uttering profanities||alternately||||||flow of events Il Gran Visir, piangendo e imprecando a turno, si affrettò a seguire il flusso.

By evening communication with Vienna was established, and Stahremberg led forth his starving garrison to greet his deliverers. |||||||||guided|||desperately hungry|military force||||rescuers Amid the shouts of the people John Sobieski entered Vienna, the city which he had saved from the Turks.

"How will the Emperor receive him?" "Come lo accoglierà l'Imperatore?". the people asked in their joy; "for he has saved the empire." chiese il popolo nella sua gioia; "perché ha salvato l'impero". They might well question. The Emperor received the deliverer of his people with a few cold words in Latin, for he was jealous of Sobieski's success. ||||||||||||||||||envious of Sobieski||| The King of Poland saw how matters stood. ||||||situation or affairs| With a courteous chivalry that might have belonged to the middle ages, he saluted the Austrian emperor. ||polite and respectful|knightly respect||||||||||paid respects to|||

"I am happy, sire, to have been able to render you this slight service," he said simply. |||Your Majesty||||||provide||||||| A general chorus of admiration and thanksgiving arose from Europe. ||unified expression||praise||gratitude||| John Sobieski had not only saved Austria's capital, but he had destroyed the growing power of Turkey and forced the Mohammedans back to their own dominions. ||||||||||||||||||||Muslim forces|||||own territories