List of campaigns of Suleiman the Magnificent

The imperial campaigns ( ota, سفر همايون, sefer-i humāyūn)The Ottoman Turkish name for the imperial campaigns, according to Şemseddin Sâmî (Frashëri) in his book
''Kamûs-ül Â'lâm''
were a series of campaigns led by Suleiman, who was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.Zürcher (1999), p. 38.

In 1520, Suleiman became the Sultan at the age of 25, succeeding his father Selim I (who had himself more than doubled the size of the Empire through his own campaigns), and began a series of military conquests.Turnbull (2003), p. 45. In addition to campaigns led by his viziers and admirals, Suleiman personally led 13 campaigns.Some sources list 14 campaigns as Suleiman did made preparations for a campaign against his son Şehzade Beyazıt in 1559, but he renounced campaigning upon the latter's retreat to Persia (Encyclopaedia metropolitana: or Universal dictionary of knowledge, Volume 13. (1845) B. Fellowes). The total duration of these campaigns was ten years and three months.Pitcher (1972), p. 112. The details of the first eight campaigns were preserved in Suleiman's diary.Pitcher (1972), p. 111. His main opponents were Ferdinand I from the House of Habsburg (later the Holy Roman Emperor), and Tahmasp I of Safavid Persia. Most of Suleiman's campaigns were directed to the west.Faroqhi (2008), p. 62. In 1521 the Ottomans captured Belgrade, which had been besieged unsuccessfully by Mehmed the Conqueror, and in 1526 the Battle of Mohács ended with the defeat of Louis II of Hungary. But Suleiman did not annex most of Hungary till 1541. In 1529 Suleiman's conquests were checked at the siege of Vienna. Although from 1529 to 1566 the borders of the Ottoman Empire moved further west, none of the later campaigns achieved the decisive victory that would secure the new Ottoman possessions.Uyar and Erickson (2009), p. 74. He annexed most of the Near East in his conflict with the Safavids. Under Suleiman's rule, the Ottoman annexed large swathes of North Africa as far west as Algeria, while the Ottoman fleet dominated the Mediterranean Sea.Mansel (2006), p. 61.

In January 1566 Suleiman, who had ruled the Ottoman Empire for 46 years, went to war for the last time.Turnbull (2003), p. 55. Although he was 72 years old and suffered gout to the extent that he was carried on a litter, he nominally commanded his thirteenth military campaign. On 1 May 1566, the Sultan left Constantinople at the head of one of the largest armies he had ever commanded. Nikola Šubić Zrinski's success in an attack upon an Ottoman encampment at Siklós, and as a consequence Suleiman's siege of Szigetvár, blocked Ottoman's line of advance towards Vienna.Turnbull (2003), p. 56. Although an Ottoman victory, the battle stopped the Ottoman push for Vienna that year, since Suleiman died during the siege.Turnbull (2003), p. 57.

Usage

The table's columns (except for ''Notes'' and ''Images'') are sortable by pressing the arrows symbols. The following gives an overview of what is included in the table and how the sorting works.
*''#'': number of the campaigns which Suleiman personally led. This does not include the campaigns led by his viziers and admirals.
*''Campaign'': name of the campaigns (alternative names for some campaigns are included below the first name)

*''Campaign dates'': time period of campaign with opening and terminal dates of each campaign
*''Notes'': Campaign path which is in small font, describes Suleiman's exact direction in particular campaign. Suleiman's main battle/target is bolded. Below the campaign path there is a short description of the campaign, covering all major events.
*''Image'': presented image is closely related with campaign, usually showing the main battle/target

Campaigns

})
,  –
21 November 1532
, align="left" , Campaign path: Eszek (Osijek)–Babócsa–Rum–Styria–Güns (Kőszeg)–Pettau (Ptuj)–Varaždin–Požega
The Ottomans' second attempt to conquer Vienna failed in 1532.Wheatcroft (2009), p. 59. After Suleiman crossed the river Drava at Osijek, instead of taking the usual route for Vienna, he turned westwards into Ferdinand's held Hungarian territory. After taking a few minor places, he laid siege to a border town called Güns (Kőszeg). According to some sources Suleiman was repulsed in the Siege of Güns.Thompson (1996), p. 442.Ágoston and Alan Masters (2009), p. 583. In another account, Croatian baron Nikola Jurišić who was the city's commander, was offered terms for a nominal surrender.Turnbull (2003), p. 51. In both versions, Suleiman withdrew at the arrival of the August rains.Vambery, p. 298.

Although he was stopped at Kőszeg and failed to conquer Vienna, since Ferdinand and Charles evaded an open field battle, Suleiman additionally secured his possession in Hungary by conquering several forts.Akgunduz and Ozturk (2011), p. 184. Immediately after the Ottoman withdraw, Ferdinand reoccupied devastated territory in Austria and Hungary.Black (1996), p. 26. Nevertheless, a peace treaty was concluded a year later with Ferdinand.Turnbull (2003), pp. 51–52. The treaty confirmed the right of John Zápolya as a king of all Hungary, but recognised Ferdinand's possession of that part of the country that enjoyed the status quo.
,
Monument of the Siege of Güns (Kőszeg)
, -
, 6
, bgcolor="#FF6666", Persia
or
tr, IrakeynThe alternative name of Suleiman's sixth campaign is "Iraqain" ( tr, Irakeyn), which refers to "The Two Iraqs": 'Irāq-i 'Ajem and 'Irāq-i 'Arab
,  –
8 January 1536
, align="left" , Campaign path: Konya–Sivas–Erzurum–Erciş–Tabriz–Sultaniye (Soltaniyeh)–Dargazin–Qasr-e Shirin–Baghdad–Irbil (Arbil)–Zagros–Tabriz–Khoy–Lake Van–Amid–Urfa (Şanlıurfa)–Aleppo–Adana–Konya–Istanbul
The Capture of Baghdad by Suleiman from the Safavid dynasty under Tahmasp I was part of the Ottoman–Safavid War (1532–1555).Cavendish (2006), p. 193. Baghdad was taken without resistance, as the Safavid government fled and left the city undefended.
,
16th century map of Tabriz, Matrakçı Nasuh
, -
, 7
, bgcolor=#aaaaFF, Corfu
or
Apulia ( tr, Pulya)
,  –
22 November 1537
, align="left" , Campaign path: Filibe (Plovdiv)–Uskup (Skoplje)–Elbasan–Avlonya (Vlorë)–Corfu–Manastir (Bitola)–Selanik (Thessaloniki)
As a part of the Franco-Ottoman alliance, the Ottomans invaded Apulia in Southern Italy. Although the Ottomans produced much terror, Otranto and Brindisi held out. Since France failed to meet his commitment, Suleiman abandoned the campaign in Italy, and led the siege of Corfu against the Venetian-held island of Corfu. It was part of the Ottoman–Venetian War (1537–1540). The Ottomans failed to capture Corfu.Setton (1984), pp. 432–433.Kurat (1966), p. 49.
,
Corfu in 16th century
, -
, 8
, bgcolor="#66FF66", Moldavia
or
tr, Kara Boğdan
,  –
27 November 1538
, align="left" , Campaign path: Babadaği (Babadag)–Jassy (Iaşi)–Suceava
In 1538 Suleiman invaded Moldavia.Shaw (1976), p. 100. The prince Peter IV Rareş fled into exile in Transylvania, and Suleiman occupied major cities of Moldavia, including the capital of Jassy (Iaşi). He appointed Ştefan as the new king of Moldavia.Iorga (2005), p. 356. (Vol 2) Suleiman also occupied Suceava and annexed Bessarabia.
,
Suceava Castle
, -
, 9
, bgcolor="#66FF66", Hungary
or
Buda ( tr, Budin)
,  –
27 November 1541
, align="left" , Campaign path: Ofen (Buda)
When John Zápolya died, Ferdinand realized an opportunity to invade Hungary.Akgunduz and Ozturk (2011), p. 185. The Habsburgs attempted a siege of Buda (1541), which was governed by Isabella Jagiellon with support from Suleiman.Turnbull (2003), p. 52. Suleiman took personal command of the Ottoman relief army, reached Buda, and defeated the Habsburgs. Suleiman annexed Hungary to the Ottoman realm and appointed Isabella as queen regent of Transylvania ( tr, Erdel).Iorga (2005), pp. 26–27. (Vol 3)
,
Siege of Buda
, -
, 10
, bgcolor="#66FF66", Hungary
or
Gran (Esztergom)
,  –
16 November 1543
, align="left" , Campaign path: Eszek (Osijek)–Siklós–Ofen (Buda)–Gran (Esztergom)–Tata–Pest
In April 1543 Suleiman returned to capture the Hungarian towns that had gone over to the Austrians during Ferdinand's last invasion. In August 1543 the Ottomans succeeded in the Siege of Esztergom (1543), which was followed by the capture of three Hungarian cities, providing better security for Buda: Székesfehérvár, Siklós and Szeged.
,
Siege of Esztergom
, -
, 11
, bgcolor="#FF6666", Persia
or
Iran
,  –
21 December 1549
, align="left" , Campaign path: Tabriz–Van–Muş–Bitlis–Amid (Diyarbakır)–Ergani–Harput (Elâzığ)–Amid–Urfa–Birecik–Aleppo–Hama–Hims–Antioch
During the Ottoman–Safavid Wars, Persia was accustomed to attacking the Ottomans from behind. Attempting to defeat the Shah once and for all, Suleiman embarked on a second campaign against the Safavid dynasty. Suleiman abandoned the campaign with temporary Ottoman gains in Tabriz and Persian Armenia, a lasting presence in the province of Van, and some forts in Georgia.
,
Walled City of Van
, -
, 12
, bgcolor="#FF6666", Persia
or
Nakhchivan
,  –
31 July 1555
, align="left" , Campaign path: Kütahya–Ereğli (where Suleiman executed prince Mustafa)–Aleppo (for the winter)–Amid (Diyarbakır)–Erzurum–Kars–Karabağ (Nagorno-Karabakh)–Nahçıvan (Nakhchivan)–Erzurum–Sivas–Amasya (second winter)
Suleiman began his third and final campaign against the Safavid Empire, in which he first lost and then regained Erzurum. Ottoman territorial gains were secured by the Peace of Amasya in 1555. Suleiman returned Tabriz, but kept Baghdad, lower Mesopotamia, the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris, and part of the Persian Gulf coast.Kinross (1979), p. 236. (Şehzade Mustafa, the heir apparent was executed during the campaign)
,
Suleiman marching in Nakhichevan
, -
, 13
, bgcolor="#66FF66", Szigetvár (Szigeth)Suleiman nominally commanded his thirteenth military campaign, but his Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha was the real operational commander of the Ottoman forces (Sakaoğlu (1999), pp. 140–141.).
,  –
6 September 1566
Suleiman died a day before the Ottoman victory
, align="left" , Campaign path: Siklós–Pécs–Szigetvár (on 6 September the Suleiman died)
During an Ottoman advance towards Vienna and learning of the Zrinsky's success in an attack upon a Turkish encampment at Siklós, Suleiman decided to postpone his attack on Eger (german: Erlau) and instead attack Zrinsky's fortress at Szigetvár to eliminate him as a threat.Setton (1984), pp. 845–846.Shelton (1867), pp. 82–83. During the Siege of Szigetvár, Croatian commander Nikola Šubić Zrinski died in the final charge, and Suleiman died in his tent from natural causes, a day before the Ottoman victory. The prolonged resistance at Szigetvár delayed the Ottoman push for Vienna that year.Elliott (2000), p. 118. Even if Suleiman had lived his army could not have achieved much in the short time that remained between the fall of Szigetvár and the onset of winter.
,
Siege of Szigetvár

Suleiman's opponents

File:Hans Krell 001.jpg, Louis II of Hungary
Campaigns 1 (Belgrade) and 3 (Mohács)
File:Karl V by Ticiano, with colour adjustments.jpg, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
File:Villiers de l Isle-Adam.jpg, Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam
Campaign 2 (Rhodes)
File:Emperor Ferdinand I MET DP828657.jpg , Ferdinand I
Campaigns 4 (Vienna), 5 (Güns/Kőszeg), 9 (Buda), and 10 (Gran/Esztergom)
File:Tahmasb-1.jpg , Tahmasp I
Campaigns 6 (Iraqain), 11 (Iran), and 12 (Nakhchivan)
File:Ritratto del Doge Andrea Gritti - Tiziano 059.jpg , Andrea Gritti
Campaign 7 (Corfu)
File:Rares.jpg , Peter IV Rareş
Campaign 8 (Moldavia)
File:Nicolas Neufchâtel 002.jpg , Maximilian II
Campaign 13 (Szigetvár)

See also

* Growth of the Ottoman Empire
* Index of Ottoman Empire-related articles
* List of Ottoman sieges and landings
* Outline of the Ottoman Empire
*Ottoman wars in Europe

Notes

;Footnotes

;Citations

References

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Further reading

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Campaigns of Suleiman the Magnificent
Wars involving the Ottoman Empire
Military campaigns involving the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire military-related lists
Suleiman the Magnificent
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