Late in the summer of 1555, the Austrians managed to scrape together another force to attempt to stop the Ottoman raid into their territory. After the ignoble defeat one month before, the Austrian commander vowed to stop the goat loving Turks and send them back to the slime pits they crawled from. The Ottomans, enamored of the loot, slaves and goats they have captured to date, felt confident of victory.

This battle is a rematch pitting the Austrian Hapsburgs against the Ottomans. The game was played on a 6x4 table with 500 pt armies. Having gained grudging respect for the Austrians’ frenzied Transylvanian allies, the Ottoman commander decided to split the battlefield in two with a woods in the center of the board, hoping to defeat the Austrians in detail. He additionally lucked out with a village to anchor his right flank zone, and a stream angling across his left flank area. This terrain allowed the Turks to defend on the right and center and concentrate their cavalry on the left.

The Turkish force had three battles. The left battle commander (3 orders) had the most open terrain, so consequently had the bulk of the cavalry. All cavalry units had two stands. He has a unit of akinjis (LAC, S, Irr(U), B/Sw,) against the stream with another akinji unit behind it. To the right was a gap one unit wide, then two units of feudal sipahis, one in front of the other. The forward unit consisted of veterans (MC, V(F), Irr, Sp/B/Sw ) while the back one contained the run of the mill Turkish dogs, (HC, S, Irr, Sp/Bow). Behind the gap the general placed his reserve, a unit of sipahis of the Porte (MC, E(F), T, L/B/Sw). To the right of the veteran sipahis was the left flanks’ ability to reach out and touch someone, a two stand battery of heavy artillery. Another unit of sipahis with akinjis behind them completed the left flank deployment.

The CinC (2 orders) commanded the center. He had his Iaylars (LAI, S(F), Irr, Sw, 6 stands), flanked left and right by azabs (LAI, S, Irr(U), B, 3 stands) ready to move forward and occupy the woods to split the Austrians. Behind the right azabs was the second sipahi of the Porte unit, flanked by light cavalry (LAC, S(F), Irr(U), Sp).

The right battle was centered on the village. The general (2 orders) was in the village with a unit of sharpshooters (LAI, E, Irr, Heavy M, 2 stands). To the left of the village was the jannisary brigade with leader (LAI, E, T, Arq/Sw, 8 stands). To the right of the village was a 2 stand battery of medium artillery with akinjis supporting it.

Aggressive as every, the Austrian commander decided to push on both sides of the woods, counting on defeating the Ottomans before they could push through the woods into the Austrian rear.

The Austrians were also in three battles. The left general (3 orders) had the lansknecht brigade with leader (HI, S, T, P, 6 stands and LAI, S, T(U), Arq, 6 stands) and two light artillery stands on the far left. To their right on the front slope of a low hill was a unit of lancers (AC, V, T, L/Sw). On their right flank were reiters (AC, S, Irr, 2xP). Haiducks (LAI, Con, Irr(U), Arq, 4 stands) were stationed on the hill top behind the lancers. While the haiducks were under the command of the Transylvanian general, the hilltop appeared to be as good a position as any to place these worthless (but mandatory) troops.

The CinC (4 orders) commanded the center. The center battle began with a 2 stand battery of heavy artillery on the flank of the reiters. Supporting this battery were the hussars (LAC, S, Irr(U), B/Sp). Next were Grenzers (LAI, S, Irr (U), Heavy M, 4 stands). To their right was the second lancers formation. The CinC also commanded a reiter unit on the Austrian far right.

The Austrian right was commanded by the allied Transylvanian general (4 orders). The first unit was cossacks (LAI, S(F), Irr(U), Sp/B). Two formations of retainers (LAC, S(F), Irr(U), Sp/B) extended the battle to the right, followed by the boyars (HC, V(F), Irr, L/Sw). A stand of medium artillery completed the line. The battle’s reserve of cossacks lined up behind the boyars.

The Battle