| Siege of Érsekújvár | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of theAustro-Turkish War (1663–1664) | |||||||||
 Plan of Érsekújvár (Uyvar) in the 17th century | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Holy Roman Empire Habsburg monarchyKingdom of Hungary |  Ottoman Empire | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Ádám Forgách | Fazil Ahmed Pasha | ||||||||
 | |||||||||
Thesiege of Érsekújvár (siege of Uyvar) also known as the siege of Neuhäusel occurred in 1663 whenGrand Vizier Fazil Ahmed Pasha leading theOttomans invaded Habsburg Hungary and captured the Hungarian fortress atÉrsekújvár (Hungarian: Érsekújvár, German: Neuhäus[e]l, Latin: Novum Castrum,Turkish:Uyvar, modernNové Zámky in southernSlovakia).[1][2]
In the first half of the 17th century, a stalemate was reached between the Ottoman Empire and theHabsburg Austria. After many peaceful years, however, border clashes began.John Kemény the Habsburg candidate to theTransylvanian throne, was trying to defeat the Ottoman vassalMichael I Apafi.[3] Although Apafi won the throne with Ottoman support, Austrians captured the forts ofKolozsvár (modern:Cluj-Napoca in Romania) andSzékelyhíd (modern:Săcueni in Romania). They also built the fort ofZrínyiújvár (inCroatianNovi Zrin) facing the Ottoman fort ofKanije (now Nagykanizsa inHungary). Meanwhile, the Ottoman army was marching toDalmatia in the scope ofCretan War (1645-1669) againstVenice. Ottoman SultanMehmet IV gave the priority to the Austrian front and the army changed its course.
The commander of the Ottoman army was Grand Vizier Fazıl Ahmet Pasha (a member ofKöprülü family). While he was marching to the Austrian front, the Austrians appealed for peace. There were a series of three peace negotiations; the first inBelgrad (now the capital ofSerbia); the second inEszék (modern Osijek inCroatia); and the third inBudapest (now the capital of Hungary). The Turks sought reparations of 200,000 florins and the withdrawal of the Austrian army. Ultimately the Habsburgs rejected the Turkish terms and the peace talks ended.[4]
Fazıl Ahmet Pasha decided to march to Érsekújvár a major fort inNorthern Hungary (now inSlovakia). It was fortified and in the 16th century the Turks had tried several times to capture it in vain. The popular saying "Strong (insistent) as a Turk in front of Nové Zámky", reflects the memory of conquest determination of the Ottomans. Before the army reached Érsekújvár on August 7 the commander of ÉrsekújvárÁdám Forgách tried to raid the Ottoman camp. But this attempt was disastrous for the Austrians.[3] The siege began in August and the fort was captured on 13 September. According to the treaty of surrender, the residents of Érsekújvár were given free passage to Austria and a letter was written to the Austrian government to certify that the fort was defended bravely.[4]
Fazil Ahmed Pasha went on to captureNógrád in NorthernHungary. Uyvar and the neighbouring area was declared a seat of thebeylerbey, as theUyvar Eyalet (Turkish:Uyvar Beylerbeyliği) of the Ottoman Empire.[5] Subsequent clashes in the winter of 1663-1664 and in 1664 resulted in thePeace of Vasvár.
After the conquest of Érsekújvár, theOttoman Empire andTatars crossed theVáh river and invadedMoravia. The invasion devastated eastern and southernMoravia and the western parts ofUpper Hungary.[6]