Battle of Mohács

The Battle of Mohács was one of the most decisive Ottoman victories in Europe, lasting barely two hours yet ending the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. Suleiman the Magnificent led a well-disciplined Ottoman army of approximately 60,000 against a Hungarian force of around 25,000 under the young King Louis II. The Hungarians, unwilling to wait for allied reinforcements, attacked the Ottoman centre directly. The Ottoman artillery and infantry absorbed the Hungarian charge, then the cavalry encircled the attackers. The Hungarian force was annihilated; King Louis II drowned in a stream while fleeing. The battle opened Hungary to Ottoman occupation, and Buda fell shortly after. Hungary remained substantially under Ottoman control for 150 years, until the Battle of Vienna and subsequent reconquest. The battle is remembered as a national tragedy in Hungary — the Hungarian expression 'More was lost at Mohács' (Több is veszett Mohácsnál) reflects its enduring weight in Hungarian cultural memory.