Siege of Belgrade (1521) – Nándorfehérvár (Belgrade)
Fact of the Hungarian figure „The vast cemetery of our national greatness” – The Battle of Mohács”
Part of the „The myth of national disaster” topic
The Siege of Belgrade in 1521 marked a crucial turning point in the Ottoman Empire’s expansion into Central Europe and set the stage for the catastrophic Battle of Mohács. After the death of Sultan Selim I, his son, Suleiman the Magnificent, shifted the empire’s focus towards Europe, with Belgrade being the first major target. Belgrade, known as Nándorfehérvár, was a key element of the Hungarian kingdom’s southern defensive fortification system, crucial for the protection of both Hungary and the wider Central European region.
On July 3rd, 1521, the Ottoman army, led by Grand Vizier Piri Pasha, began encircling Belgrade. Instead of launching a direct assault on the city, Piri Pasha first targeted the nearby fortress of Zimony, remembering the failed Ottoman offensive of 1456, where a Hungarian counterattack had started from that very position. By capturing Zimony, the Ottomans aimed to prevent any possibility of a Hungarian counteroffensive.
Despite efforts by a hastily assembled Hungarian relief army, they were unable to relieve the beleaguered city. The Ottomans, meanwhile, built a bridge across the Sava River, allowing them to reinforce their siege. After capturing Zimony, Ottoman artillery began bombarding the eastern walls of Belgrade. Despite fierce resistance, including a successful repulse of a major assault on August 26th by the city’s defender, Vicebanus Balázs Oláh, the situation inside the fortress became dire as supplies of food and water dwindled.
On August 29th, 1521, exactly five years before the Battle of Mohács, Balázs Oláh surrendered the fortress in exchange for a safe retreat, which Suleiman granted in writing. However, as the Hungarian troops withdrew, they were ambushed and massacred near Zimony, showcasing the ruthless efficiency of the Ottoman war machine.
The fall of Belgrade was a devastating blow to Hungary’s defensive strategy and a grim prelude to the Battle of Mohács. It exposed the vulnerabilities of the Hungarian kingdom and highlighted the failure of Central European powers to unite effectively against the Ottoman threat. The loss of this critical fortress not only foreshadowed the disaster at Mohács but also marked the beginning of a long period of Ottoman dominance in the region, reshaping the political and military landscape of Central Europe.
