Battle of Una

Coordinates: 45°02′53″N 16°22′37″E / 45.048°N 16.377°E / 45.048; 16.377
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about a battle fought in 1483. For the battle fought in 1995, see Operation Una.
Battle of Una
Part of the
Kingdom of Croatia
45°02′53″N 16°22′37″E / 45.048°N 16.377°E / 45.048; 16.377
Result Croatian victory
Belligerents Ottoman Empire
Kingdom of Croatia
Commanders and leaders Harsi Pasha
Sarayli Hasan Matthias Geréb
Bernardin Frankopan
Ivan Frankopan Cetinski
Mihovil Frankopan Slunjski
Vuk GrgurevićStrength 5,500[1]–7,000[2] light cavalryCasualties and losses more than 1,000[3] killed,
2,000[1] imprisoned

The Battle of Una (

Despot of Serbia, Vuk Grgurević. Their goal was to intercept the Ottomans that were moving towards the Una River. In the battle that lasted for 2 days the Ottomans were defeated and soon a 7-year truce was signed with Sultan Bayezid II
.

Background

Following the fall of

Lower Styria.[5]

Battle

Ottoman horseman taking Christian captives.

In early October 1483 Sultan

Despot of Serbia Vuk Grgurević and Blaise Magyar. A part of the Croatian cavalry was sent to track the Ottomans on distance and if an opportunity comes up to intercept them.[2][3]

On their way back the Ottoman armies merged into one, leading many captives which were slowing them down. Upon hearing of a large army trailing them, the Ottomans tried to evade a fight and reach the Bosnian Sanjak without confronting the enemies. As ban got bored with waiting, he marched off with his army, as he hoped to clash with the Ottomans when he encounters them. This turned out to be on the Una river crossing near Brod Zrinski (modern-day Novi Grad).[2]

At first, the Ottomans attempted to bribe some nobleman called Vuk to let them pass, but to no avail.[7] Then they attempted negotiations with Croatian nobles to let them back - under conditions that they release Christian captives and pay 1 Forint for each Ottoman horseman. As these negotiations were ongoing, the Croatians noticed that Ottomans started killing the captives so talks escalated into a battle.[7]

Since there was no other crossing nearby, fighting started on dusk, 29 October. The battle was stopped by the nightfall, during which the Ottomans akinjis took position at the foot of a nearby hill. At the same time, they placed their captives on the hiltop. Fighting resumed on dawn next day and ended in a total defeat of Ottoman army. Around 2,000 Ottomans were imprisoned,[2][6] while more than 1,000 fell on the battlefield.[3] According to a report from King Matthias Corvinus, 10,000 Christian prisoners were liberated.[1] The King sent a special letter of gratitude to Ban Matthias Geréb and the Croatian nobles and informed Pope Sixtus IV about the victory on 6 November.[3]

Aftermath

Shortly after the battle a 7-year truce was signed with Sultan Bayezid II that lasted until the death of King Matthias Corvinus in 1490. Although during that time no major battles were fought, local border clashes continued.

Bayazid II used this truce to strengthen his rule and prepare fresh forces for new conquests and the expansion of his Empire westward, that continued in 1490.[9] Croatia had another victory against the Ottomans in the Battle of Vrpile in 1491, but also a huge defeat in the Battle of Krbava Field in 1493.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Vjekoslav Klaić: Povijest Hrvata od najstarijih vremena do svršetka XIX. stoljeća, Knjiga četvrta, Zagreb, 1988, p. 166
  2. ^ a b c d Vjekoslav Klaić: Povijest Hrvata od najstarijih vremena do svršetka XIX. stoljeća, Knjiga četvrta, Zagreb, 1988, p. 164-165
  3. ^ a b c d e Ive Mažuran: Povijest Hrvatske od 15. stoljeća do 18. stoljeća, p. 37
  4. ^ Ferdo Šišić: Povijest Hrvata; pregled povijesti hrvatskog naroda 600 – 1918, Zagreb, p. 242
  5. ^ Rudolf Horvat: Povijest Hrvatske I. (od najstarijeg doba do g. 1657.)/Hrvatska god. 1479.—1490.
  6. ^ a b Anđelko Mijatović: Bitka na Krbavskom polju 1493. godine; Zagreb, 2005, p. 35
  7. ^ a b Klaić, 166-167
  8. ^ Dragutin Pavličević: Krbavska bitka i njezine posljedice, 1997, p. 46
  9. ^ Ive Mažuran: Povijest Hrvatske od 15. stoljeća do 18. stoljeća, p. 38
  10. ^ Trpimir Macan: Povijest hrvatskog naroda, Zagreb, 1992, p. 120


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