The siege of Valpovo took place at Valpovo, now part of Croatia, from May to June 1543. It was part of the OttomanâÂÂHabsburg War of 1540âÂÂ1547, as well as the Hundred Years' CroatianâÂÂOttoman War. The siege resulted in an Ottoman victory.
The fort (castle) with suburbs near Valpovo (Hungarian: Valpó, German: Walpach, Turkish: Valpo) is located on a large plain near the Karaà ¡ica River, about 80 km northeast of Poà ¾ega and about 27 km northwest of Osijek. àIt is a small wasserburg (water castle) protected by ramparts and towers, but the defences are outdated and is able to resist only a small assault.àThe small garrison is under the command of Mihály ÃÂrky (also known as Mihály Vas and Michael Archius), a very military man, and a veteran of many campaigns, who provided the city with food and a strong garrison able to repel the attackers for a long time. Valpovo was owned by Imre Perényi, whose son Péter Perényi [<nowiki/>] was one of the greatest Hungarian aristocrats and the last lord of Valpovo.
In response to King Ferdinand's provocations in Hungary, especially his siege of Pest (26 September â 9 October 1542)[<nowiki/>], and worry that Buda could be lost, Sultân Süleymân decided to lead a campaign into Hungary in 1543, to expand the Eyalet of Buda and thus strengthen the defence of Buda.àHe spent the winter in Edirne, almost 250 km northwest of ðstanbul, where he planned the coming campaign.àShortly before spring arrived, Süleymân sent an order to Ulama BeÃÂ[<nowiki/>], the sançakbeàof Bosnia since 1541, to secure lands between the Danube and Drava rivers before his arrival.àKasñm BeÃÂ, the sançakbeàof Mohács, was ordered to join Ulama Beàand raid towards Vienna and Buda to assess the status of the Christian armies. ÃÂ
By 16 April, Murad Beàand Ulama Beàtook VoÃÂin, StupÃÂanica, Bijela Stijena, Dobra KuÃÂa, Bijela and SiraÃÂ.àDuring the spring, Ulama BeÃÂ's army crossed the Drava and broke into Muraköz (MeÃÂimurje), raided, and attacked Kanizsa, owned by Tamás Nádasdy, but it was well defended by Nikola IV Zrinski, the Ban of Croatia, who sallied out and attacked Ulama BeÃÂâÂÂs camp, forcing the Ottomans to flee.
Early in the spring, Sultân Suleymân sends an order to Murâd BeàTardiÃÂ, the sanjakbeàof Poà ¾ega, commanding: <blockquote>âÂÂYou, who are my servant, Murâd BeÃÂ, and the emir of the sanjak of Pojega!àAs soon as my highest command reaches you, ask in a friendly manner the gâvurs of the castle named Valpovo to surrender, grant mercy to the infidels with vile morals in it and see to it that everything is done according to their wishes.àIf those wicked accept your highest mercy and offer the castle, immediately take possession of it, and until my arrival see to its custody and protection, as necessary.àHowever, if they oppose and do not give up: then, without delaying an hour or a minute, go, attack the castle and cannonade it until I arrive there."</blockquote>
In early May, Murâd BeÃÂ, following the Ottoman Sultan Suleyman's orders, rode to Valpovo and, under a flag of parley, asked for the castellan, and gave the garrison an opportunity to surrender on generous terms. àMihály ÃÂrky replied: âÂÂHey, Murâd BeÃÂ! Know that I will not surrender the castle to you, do not tire your tongue with vain speech, nor strive after your unattainable desire, but go home and be at ease; then when the Pâdià Ââh arrives here, I will give it up to him.âÂÂ
Murâd Beàangrily responded: àâÂÂHey damned one! àSuch speech is not a satisfactory answer to me, and I have not received such an order from the Pâdià Ââh. àEither surrender the castle or face the consequences. àIt is time to be ready!â àMurâd Beàrecorded the response given by ÃÂrky, and sent a report to the Sultân's court in Constantinople.
Murâd Beàcalled Hñzñr (Khizr) Beàof Kyustendil, Mesih Beàof Valona, and Ahmed BeàYahyapaà ÂaoÃÂlu of Lepanto, to join him in the siege Valpovo. àOn 6 May, Küçük Bali Paà Âa, the BeÃÂlerbeàof Buda, died and the Sultan learned of the death on 14 May, while near Sofia. Two days later, Yahyapaà Âazade Mehmed Paà Âa, who took Poà ¾ega in 1537, was appointed BeÃÂlerbeàof Buda. On 10 May, Murâd BeÃÂâÂÂs army arrived at Valpovo and began to build entrenchments and firing positions for cannons brought from Osijek. àThe cannons begin to fire slowly, as much as is possible with the weapons and munitions available. àThe Valpovo garrison sallied out to attack Murâd's soldiers.
Castellan ÃÂrky sent reports about the siege and the garrisons of Siklós and Pécs sent about 500 horsemen as a relief army to lift the siege. àThe horsemen crossed the Drava River by boat, and while they rode to Valpovo, Murâd Beàsent 300 of his best horsemen to intercept the Christians. àMurâd Beàsent a report to the Sultân claiming that his men defeated the Christians, killing many, taking some captive, and forcing many others into the river, where they drowned. As proof of the victory, Murâd sent a notable captive and 70 severed ears and noses to the Sultân. àEuropean reports claimed that Murâd's horsemen were defeated and that he sent a false report to hide his failure. àMurâd's report arrived with the Sultân on 19 May, after he had left Sofia.
The Sultân sent Ahmed Paà Âa, BeÃÂlerbeàof Rumelia, the commander of the vanguard, to the Drava River to build a bridge, and then took Siklós and Pécs. àHe also ordered Kasñm BeÃÂ, the sançakbeàof Mohács, to travel north and clear the way from Szekszárd to Buda of any possible ambushes. On 4 June, while Sultan Suleymân arrived in Belgrade, Ahmed Pasha, with the Sultân's vanguard, arrived at Valpovo and the bombardment continued. ÃÂ
On 9 June, from his estate at Lukavec, in Croatia, Nikola IV Zrinski, Ban of Croatia, informed Nikola Jurià ¡iÃÂ, Baron of Güns and Governor of Carniola, and others, that from Turkish captives he learned about the arrival of the Ottoman army in Srijem and their bridge-building at Petrovaradin and Osijek. He also reported that the Turks had not yet taken the castle of Walpo (Valpovo), but Mwrathbeg bassa of Posega and Vlymanbeg bassa of Bosnia had besieged it with the strictest siege.àZrinski asked, from all the lords of the kingdom, for support for the besieged fortress and stated that he was willing to help but with his 600 men he could not oppose them alone.àNo help arrived either for the Ban or Valpovo.
On 10 June, Süleymân left Belgrade. àTwo days later, near à  abac, he crossed the Sava River and marched into Slavonia. àOn 13 June, after the siege cannons had created breaches in Valpovo's walls, a large assault was made but repulsed by the defenders. àAs reports arrived that the Sultân would soon arrive, the ferocity of Murâd BeÃÂâÂÂs attacks increased but the defenders continued to resist, killing several eminent Warriors of the Faith.
On 21 June, soldiers from the Sultân's army arrived, bringing with them large wall-shattering siege cannons. àThe cannons were set up and fired. àBy 22 June, 3,137 cannonballs had hit the Valpovo walls, most of which were shattered, half the soldiers were dead, and almost all the rest were either wounded or sick. àAs the stench of the rotting corpses grew unbearable, first among the residents, and then the soldiers, morale dropped. àFollowing the Sultân's arrival, the Rumelian and Anatolian BeÃÂlerbeÃÂs formed up and paraded their soldiers, in full splendour, in front of Valpovo further terrifying the residents and soldiers inside. àMihály ÃÂrky continues to resist surrendering.
Also on 22 June, from his estate at Lukavec, Nikola IV Zrinski wrote to Tamás Nádasdy, a former Ban of Croatia, asking for help to rescue Valpovo.àZrinski stated that he was prepared to go with his army where he is needed and waits for orders.àHe warned about what might happen to the morale of other castellans if they saw that the castellan of Valpovo, while in danger, were left without support.àNo help arrived.
On 23 June, demoralized residents rebelled and forced castellan ÃÂrky to surrender. àOne story tells that the terrified defenders captured ÃÂrky and handed him over to Ahmed BeÃÂ, who imprisoned him. Ahmed Paà Âa, BeÃÂlerbeàof Rumelia, sent a courier with a report of the victory to Sultân Süleymân, who was nearing Osijek. Ottoman sources claimed that, with the courier, Mihály ÃÂrky was sent as a prisoner to the Sultân, who allegedly, impressed with ÃÂrky's defence, gave him a rich offer that ÃÂrky could not refuse and that he joined the Sultân and was given a timar in the Eyalet of Buda. àSome Hungarian sources claimed that though ÃÂrky and his men were promised safe passage from Valpovo, they were killed in an ambush by soldiers desiring booty. Yet another story told that the Paà Âa invited ÃÂrky and a few of his officers to dinner, where ÃÂrky was killed.
Three days later, Sultân Süleymân encamped under Valpovo and rewarded Murad Beàwith an increase in annual income of 30,000 akçe and his son with a timar of 12,000 akçe.àAt an Imperial Divân, the viziers and notables congratulated the Sultan on his victory and a judge and an imam were appointed to govern the town. Süleymân then ordered Ahmed Paà Âa to besiege Siklós. From there, Süleymân returned to Osijek, crossed the Drava River, entered southern Hungary with his army, and soon after took Siklós and Pécs,àwhere his army was joined by tens of thousands (possibly up to 80,000) Tatars and akñnçi light horsemen.àFrom there, the army marched north to Esztergom, Székesfehérvar, and Tata.