Mastodawn

Sizes of Armies in the Hungarian-Ottoman Wars

This is list of sizes of field armies and military establishments alike during the Hungarian-Ottoman wars, from their beginning in the 14th century until early 17th century.

Hopefully it will provide a good overview of how large armies advanced medieval states could field. Still, two factors should be noted. Firstly, records will naturally be incomplete or uncertain. Nevertheless, while exact numbers cannot be established with certainty for most cases (with few exceptions), they should provide a general ballpark. Secondly, Hungary and Ottoman Empire were two fundamentally different states. Not only was the Ottoman Empire much larger, but it was also much more centralized and “modern” than the feudal Hungary. As a results, Ottomans found it easier to field large, organized armies, even during the early period when “raw” resources of two states were comparable. Of course, as the time progressed and the Ottoman Empire expanded in all directions, Hungary found itself increasingly outmatched. This was only gradually reversed during the Habsburg era, but that period goes way beyond the Middle Ages or even early modernity.

Sources:

Vjekoslav Klaić, Povijest Hrvata

Tamas Pasafalvi – From Nicopolis To Mohacs

1397: all landowners appear in person as well as equipping one mounted archer per 20 peasant plots
1396, Battle of Nicopolis
- Crusader army
  - Burgundian contignent: 1 000 men-at-arms, ~60 archers, ~100 crossbowmen (est.)
1410s, Sigismund’s army:
- border troops: 2 200 lances (cca 2 200 men at arms, 4 400 – 6 600 light cavalry)
- second line: 450 lances (cca 450 men-at-arms, 900 – 1 350 light cavalry)
1411, November 11, Sigismund’s army against Venice: 10 000 – 12 000 cavalry
1412, December 12, Sigismund’s army in Weiden: 3 000 cavalry
1414, Ottoman assistance to Hrvoje Vukčić in Bosnia: 30 000
Ottoman raids on Croatia in 1414, 1415
- Venetian assistance to Ottomans 1415: 600 archers
1419, July, Venetian siege of Trogir: 500 infantry
1423 Ottoman raid: 15 000 men
1425. October, Ottoman raiding party: 15 000
- note: destroyed by Sigismund in Bulgaria
1426, May, Ottoman raid on Bosnia: 4 000
1432/1433, Sigismund’s organization of Hungarian military
- 80 000 cavalry in total
  - 60 000 towards the Turks
  - 20 000 towards the Hussites
- banderium size: 500 men
1433, March, decree on defense
- general mobilization – tempore universalis exercitus generaliter proclamati
- prelates, barons and rich nobles provide their banderia
- on top of noble banderiums, all nobility is to provide one well-armed and armored cavalryman for each 33 serfs
1434, Talloci’s campaign in Bosnia: 1 117 lances / 4 500 men
1435, August, Ottoman raid in Bosnia: 1 500 men
- arrived at request of Hrvoje Vukčić
Ottoman army destroyed in 1437: 40 000 men
1439, June, Ottoman invasion of Serbia: 130 000 men
1439, August, Hungarian army: 25 000 men
1442, March, Ottoman raid into Transylvania (Mezid Bey)
- Ottoman army: 16 000 cavalry
1442, Vasaq (raid)
- Ottoman Army: 80 000 men
- Hungarian Army: 15 000 men
1443, May, reported Ottoman garrisons
- 2 000 Ottoman cavalry near Sofia
- 4 000 Ottoman and Serbian cavalry around Smederevo
1443, August, start of John Hunyadi’s Long Campaign
- Hungarian Army
  - 15 000 men
    - 10 000 Hungarian
    - 5 000 Serbian by Despot Branković
  - 600 battle wagons
1443, November, Ottoman garrison in Balkans: 20 000
1444, Varna (campaign)
- Hungarian Army: 20 000 total
  - ~15 000 Hungarian cavalry
    - 8 500 heavy cavalry
  - 4 000 Wallachian cavalry under Dracula
  - few hundred Hungarian infantry
  - 100 war wagons
- Ottoman Army
  - 30 000 – 35 000 Sipahis
  - 10 000 Janissary infantry
  - ~10 000 Akinci light cavalry and Azab light infantry
1448, Kosovo (campaign)
- Hungarian Army: 32 000 total; 24 000 Hungarian, 8 000 Wallachian
  - 15 000 cavalry
  - 4 000 puskars (handgunners)
- Ottoman Army: 50 000 total
  - 10 000 light infantry (Azabs)
1453, Ottoman capture of Constantinople:
- 80 000 Ottoman regular, 85 000 Ottoman irregular
- 9 000 Constantinople defenders (3 000 Latins), 26 ships (10 Roman)
1454, January, Hunyadi’s defensive mobilization: 4 mounted archers and 2 footmen from every 100 tennant plots
1454, October, Hunyadi’s raid into Serbia: 8 000 cavalry
1454, Ottoman army destroyed on October 2: 32 000 troops
1456, July, Belgrade (siege)
- Hungarian:
  - 7 000 (city garrison)
  - 12 000 (reinforcements)
  - 30 000 – 60 000 crusaders (most likely ~27 000)
  - 240 boats
- Ottoman:
  - 120 000 men (contemporary, modern estimate 40 000 – 50 000)
  - 300 cannons
  - 70 large ships
  - 200 small ships
1457, Ottoman army in Bosnia: 8 000 men
1458, April, Hungarian expedition into Serbia (Szilagyi): 8 000 men
1458, June, Ottoman army in Serbia: 40 000 men
1458, June, Ottoman raid into Srijem: 7 000 men
1458, November, Szilagy’s defeat:
- Ottoman raid into southern Hungary: 8 000 cavalry
- Szilagy’s response force: 2 000 cavalry and 1 000 infantry
1459, Hungarian army under Simon Nagy: 3 000 men (royal troops)
1461, Hungarian army sent to help archduke Albrecht: 5 200 men
- 4 000 cavalry, 1 200 infantry
1463, Ottoman army moving towards Bosnia: 150 000 men
1463, Ottoman advance guard: 20 000 light cavalry
Standing Army of Matthias Corvinus, 1463: 7 000 men
- 5 000 infantry, 2 000 cavalry
1463, April: 1 light cavalryman for every 10 peasant homes
1463, May, Army raised by Matthias Corvinus in Srijem: 19 000
- standing army:
  - 2 000 court cavalry
  - 5 000 infantry
- prelate and baronial banderia: 12 000 cavalry
1463, estimated Ottoman garrison of Bosnia: 20 000 men
1463, December, Ottoman garrison of Jajce: 700
1464, May, field army raised by Matthias to invade Ottoman Empire: 22 000
- 14 000 cavalry
- 8 000 infantry
1464, June, raiding army led by Muhammad-pasha: 40 000
1464, September 11, army led by king Matthias into Bosnia
- 17 000 cavalry
- 6 000 infantry
- 7 000 Crusaders
1465, May: 1 soldier for every 20 peasant homes
1465, November, army sent by king Matthias towards Herzegovina: 5 000
1468, army sent by king Matthias into Austria (against Moravians there): 5 000
1468, army taken by king Matthias into Moravia: 16 000 men, 50 cannons, 2 000 wagons
1469, army taken by king Matthias into Czechia: 10 000
1469, May, Ottoman raid into Croatia (Slavonia?): 20 000
1469, 27 July, army sent by king Matthias into Croatia: 9 000 cavalry
Ottoman raids of unknown size into Croatia (Slavonia) in 1470 and 1471
1471, May, Ottoman army in Bosnia preparing to raid Istria and Carniola: 40 000
1471, August, Ottoman garrison of newly-constructed Šabac: 2 000
1472, September, army with king Matthias: 10 000 men, 900 war wagons
1472, September, Ottoman raid into Croatia and Slovenia: 12 000 cavalry
note: Ottoman raid of unknown size into Croatian Slavonia in 1473
1474, Ottoman raid into Croatia: 8 000
1474, Matthias’ army in Bohemia: 10 000 men, 900 war wagons
1475, army raised by Matthias:
- 60 000 – 70 000 troops (of which 4 000 Bosnian)
- 100 ships on Danube and Sava
- 1 000 wagons
1470s, army raised by Matthias (possibly more accurate report on the 1475 above):
- 6 000 mercenary heavy cavalry
- 10 000 infantry
- 10 000 Hungarian heavy cavalry
- 4 000 footmen (crossbowmen)
- artillery:
  - 12 mortars
  - 40 quartanes
  - 107 haufnicas
  - 200 tarasnicas
  - 3 000 carts for wagenburg
  - 30 bombards on wheeled carriages
- 330 river vessels
  - 10 000 soldiers
    - 1 700 men-at-arms with lances
    - 1 200 infantry with great shields (pavise)
    - remainder (7 000) crossbowmen and archers
1475, Ottoman garrison of Šabac: 13 000
1476, Ottoman garrison of Šabac: 700 (remnant)
Ottoman raid of unknown size into Slavonia in 1475
1476, Ottoman raid into Erdely (Transylvania): 5 000
1476, July, Ottoman’s invasion of Moldavia under Muhammad:
- 90 000 (9 000 Wallachian) main army
- 10 000 eastern army
1476, Ottoman army left in Moldavia after Sultan’s retreat: 18 000
1476, October, Matthias’ armies:
- 26 000 men in a fortified camp facing Ottomans
- ~54 000 men assisting Stephen the Great in Moldavia
1476, Ottoman raid into Croatia burns Križevci
1477, October, Ottoman raid into Croatia and Venice: 10 000
1478, June, Ottoman raid into Croatia and Carniola: 20 000 cavalry
1479, October, Ottoman raid into Erdely: 43 000 (alternatively: 21 000))
1480, February, Hungarian expedition to Krk: 6 000
1480, June, Hungarian raid into Wallachia: 60 000
1480, June, Ottoman-Wallachian army (destroyed): 20 000
1480, August, Ottoman raid on Hungary: 7 000
1480, November, Ottoman raid into Holy Roman Empire: 3 000
1480, December, Ottoman raid into Hungary (destroyed): >10 000
1480, December, Ottoman defensive army (destroyed): >8 000
1481, March, Ottoman invasion of Otranto: 20 000
1481, Hungarian army sent by king Matthias to help retake Otranto: 700
- 100 men-at-arms
- 200 light cavalry
- 400 infantry
1481, August, Hungarian raid into Serbia and Bulgaria: 28 000
1482, September, Ottoman raid into Hungary: 10 000
1483, autumn, Ottoman raid into Croatia: >7 000 cavalry
1484, April 10, orders for Saxon mobilization: 200 cavalry (heavy?)
1486, Matthias’ army sent to assist Ferdinant of Neapoli: 1 000 cavalry, 700 infantry
1487, January, Matthias’ invasion of Austria: 20 000 cavalry, 8 000 infantry
Total military strength of Matthias Corvinus: 148 000 – 163 000
- 364 galleys with 2 600 sailors and 10 000 soldiers
1491, June, Hungarian army at Stolni Biograd: 40 000
1491, September, Ottoman raiding party: 10 000 – 11 000
1491, September, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 12 000
- note: possibly same as the above
1491, Winter, Pal Kiniszi’s army: 6 000 cavalry, 6 000 infantry
1492, January, Black Army at Košice: 7 000
early 1493, Wladislas II army against the Frankapans: 4 000 cavalry, 2 000 infantry
- led by ban Derencsiny (Derenčin)
1493, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 8 000 light cavalry
- note: defeated the above Croatian army
1493, winter, Pal Kiniszi’s raid on Ottoman Serbia: 10 000 cavalry
- only 3 000 cavalry participated in actual raid, remainder stayed in a fortified camp
Ottoman raid of unknown size in July 1494
Hungarian raid in 1494
- note: heavy cavalry acted as a “moving castle” – tactical reserve, while light cavalry raided
1494, September, Ottoman raid: 20 000
note: Hungary and Ottoman Empire agreed on three years truce in April 1495
1495, February, Hungarian army at Gussing: 6 000 cavalry, some infantry
1496, John Corvinus’ raid on Zadar: 200 cavalry, 600 infantry
1497, summer, Ottoman raid on Carinthia and Carniola: 12 000
note: Hungarian-Ottoman truce renewed in 1498 for another three years; Ottomans captured Bosnian castle of Komotin (under Hungarian crown) shortly after renewal of the truce; truce was revoked by Hungary in April 1500
1500, autumn, Hungarian army at Bacs: 4 000 men-at-arms, 6 000 light cavalry
1501, early summer, Ottoman army through Modruš: 6 000
1501, September, Josza Som’s raid on Serbia: 14 000 cavalry
- v2: 10 000 cavalry, 6 000 infantry, 1 200 wagons, 32 cannons
1501, September, Hungarian (John Corvinus) raid on Bosnia: 8 000
1501, October, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 15 000
1501, November, Hungarian raid (Peter Szentgyorgyi) on Ottoman Bulgaria: 5 000
1501, November, Ottoman army destroyed in Croatia: 12 000
note: complete forces commanded by Corvinus, Somi, Szentgyorgy: 20 000 cavalry, 7 000 infantry
1502, January, Ottoman destruction of Levać:
- Ottoman army: 4 000 cavalry, 3 000 infantry
- garrison of Levać: 700
1502, January, army of Viceroy of Jajce: 200 cavalry
1502, May, Ottoman siege of Jajce: 6 000 cavalry, 4 000 infantry
1502, June, Janos Tarcai’s army for provision of Jajce: 2 000 light cavalry, 2 000 infantry, 50 men-at-arms; 1 000 wagons of wine and 1 000 wagons of other necessities
1502, July, Ottoman raid: 1 000 cavalry
1502, July, Ottoman attack on Tarcai’s wagenburg:
- Ottoman army: 10 000 men
- Hungarian army: 2 000 infantry (cavalry had previously departed)
- attack successfully repulsed
1502, October, Jozsa Somi’s raid on Bosnia: 7 000 cavalry
- note: Somi’s overall force 16 000, but remainder left behind to protect the border
- destroyed Vidin
1502, October, John Corvinus’ raid on Bosnia: 4 000 (contemporary with above)
1502, Croatian raid on Rog: 400 cavalry
1502, December, raid on Bosnia (Somi and Corvinus)
- Hungarian army (Somi and Corvinus): 20 000
- Ottoman army of Bosnia (Iskander Pasha): 5 000 – 10 000
  - note: no engagement – Iskander Pasha ordered not to attack Hungarians unless attacked; Somi’s army caused no damage to Ottomans
1503, Skender-pasha’s raid on Dalmatia: 2 000 cavalry
1503, basic unit of Hungarian army: 6 light cavalry, 1 man-at-arms, 1 wagon with infantry (6 infantrymen per wagon?)
treaty of 1503 was first one that forbade significant raiding by either side, and thus no Ottoman raids were recorded on Hungary or Croatia from 1503 until 1509 when Ottoman raid had been initiated by Venetian diplomacy; from 1511 Ottoman raids begin again in earnest
early 1510s, Hungarian standing / permanent forces on the Ottoman border:
- Hungarian marches:
  - 3 590 cavalry
  - 400 infantry
  - 1 100 boatmen
- Croatian-Slavonian border:
  - 1 657 cavalry
  - 770 infantry
1511, July, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 300
- scouting party for a larger raid that devastated Dubica county few days later
1512, August, army of Emerik Perenyi: 3 500 cavalry, 600 infantry; increased to 8 000 by Frankapan reinforcements once in Croatia
- scouting detachment sent to Bosnia: 500 cavalry
1512, Ottoman raid of unknown size crushed by Batori’s army in mid-October
1513, June, Ottoman raids began in earnest
1513, August, Petar Berislavić’s destruction of Ottoman raiding army in Bosnia
- Ottoman army: 12 000
- Croatian army: 3 000
1514, Ottoman raid on Croatia (Modruša): 2 000
1514, Ottoman raid on Đakovo: 1 500
1514, Ottoman raid on Požega: 2 000 cavalry, 3 000 infantry
1514, Ottoman raid on Knin: 10 000
1514, autumn, Beriszlo’s raid on Ottoman Bosnia: 1 000 cavalry, 1 000 infantry
1514, September, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 4 000
1515, multiple Ottoman raids of unknown size
1515, February, Ban Beriszlo’s army: 2 000 cavalry, 2 000 infantry
1515, March, Croatian army of Petar Berislavić: 500 cavalry, 2 000 infantry
1515, May, Berislavić’s army destroyed near Novigrad: 10 000
1515, August, Ottoman army in Bosnia: 40 000
1515, John Zapolya’s attack on Žrnov: 10 000
1518, January-February, Petar Berislavić’s expedition to supply Jajce: 4 000 cavalry, 6 000 infantry
1518, proposed mobilization: 1 heavily armed horseman (man-at-arms) per every 36 hearths, 1 lightly armed horseman per every 24 hearths
early 1519 (January or February), Petar Berislavić’s supply run to Jajce: 3 000 cavalry
peace agreement in summer 1519 postulated that any raids with less than 500 cavalrymen will not be considered a breach of peace
1520, Ottoman raid: 3 000 (one of multiple)
1520, Ottoman army in Bosnia: 12 000
1520., Ottoman raid in Croatia: 800 infantry
1520., Petar Berislavić’s force: 300 cavalry
- note: with this force, Petar Berislavić broke the aforementioned 800 infantry
1520, Ottoman raid in late spring: 800 cavalry (killed Petar Berislavić)
1521, Ottoman siege of Belgrade
- garrison of Belgrade: 700 – 900
- Hungarian army ready to assist Belgrade: 140 000 (?)
- Ottoman army:
  - 300 cannons
  - 24 large galleys, 200 small vessels
1521, troops promised by Archduke Ferdinand of Habsburg: 3 000 infantry and some artillery
1521, November, standing army required to be held by Viceroy of Croatia (Ivan Karlović): 1 000 cavalry
1522, May, Ottoman army besieging Knin: 25 000
1522, June, Croatian garrison of Klis: 300
1522, October, Szapolyai’s attack on Turnu Magurele: 5 000 cavalry, 2 000 infantry
1523, summer, Ottoman raiding army in Srijem: 15 000
1523, August, Ottoman raid on Ostrovica: 60 cavalry, 400 infantry
1523, August, Ottoman attack on Hungary (Ferhat-pasha)
- Ottoman army: 15 000
- Hungarian army: 4 000
- note: Ottoman army destroyed piecemeal by Hungarians after having split into three raiding columns, each 5 000 strong; Hungarians suffered some 700 losses – experienced border troops difficult to replace
eight raids of unknown size in November 1523 – thus it is likely that number of small raids was far greater than what is listed here
1524, Archduke Ferdinand’s loan to Croatia: 200 light cavalry, 600 infantry
1524, Petar Kružić’s relief army at Klis: 60 cavalry, 1 500 infantry
1524, June, Ottoman raid of Croatia: 3 000
1524, August, Hungarian southern army: 1 000 light cavalry, 600 men-at-arms
1525, June, Hungarian Expedition to Jajce under Krsto Frankapan
- Hungarian army: 2 000 cavalry, 4 000 infantry
- Ottoman army of Bosnia: 15 000 – 16 000
1526, March: infantry to be furnished at ratio of one for every ten tennants
1526, Mohacs:
- Hungarian army: 20 000 (possibly 24 000 – 25 000)
  - 3 000 heavy cavalry
  - 4 300 light cavalry
  - 12 000 infantry (10 000 infantry, 2 000 artillery?)
  - 80 cannons
- Ottoman army: 100 000 total, including non-combat personnel
  - 50 000 cavalry
  - 12 000 Janissaries
  - 300 cannons (2 000 cannoneers)
1527, Ferdinand’s promised standing army in Croatia: 1 000 cavalry, 200 infantry
1527, three Ottoman raiding armies just in February
1527, February, Ottoman raiding party: 500 cavalry
1527, March, Ottoman raiding party: 2 000 cavalry
1527, July, Ferdinand’s army against Zapolya: 3 000 cavalry, 8 000 infantry
1527, September, army of Krsto Frankapan: 3 000 cavalry, 10 000 peasants
1528, October, Habsburg army near Metlika: 5 000
1529, March, Ferdinand’s army in Slavonia: 700 cavalry (Slovenian), 1 500 Spanish infantry
1529, May, garrison of Gradec: 700 Spanish infantry
1529, July, Ferdinand’s siege of Capitol: 10 000
1529, September, Suleiman’s siege of Vienna:
- Ottoman army:
  - 100 000 soldiers
  - 170 000 non-combatants
  - 300 cannons
- Vienna garrison:
  - 16 000 – 18 000
1530, May, Zapolya-Ottoman raid on Croatia (under Simon): 600 cavalry
1532, May, Suleiman’s invasion of Hungary
- 140 000 men
- 120 cannons
1532, May, Ferdinand’s planned army in Austria: 98 000
- 40 000 German infantry
- 8 000 German cavalry
- 40 000 Spanish infantry
- 10 000 Hungarian mercenaries
- NOTE: Never faced Suleiman, as latter was stopped at Koszeg by Nikola Jurišić with 700 soldiers
1532, June, Kružić’s army at Klis: 2 000
1536, July, Ottoman raid into Slavonia
- Ottoman army: 18 000
- Croatian army: 25 000
1537, March, assistance to Klis:
- 3 000 German soldiers sent by Ferdinand
- 700 Papal soldiers sent by Paul III
1537, March, Ottoman army at Klis under Murat-beg:
- 1 000 cavalry
- 1 000 infantry
1537, April, proposed standing army
- 800 cavalry
- 200 infantry
1537, July, assembly of banderial forces near Koprivnica: 1 690 men, 260 wagons
1537, August, army in Slavonia: 24 000
- 8 000 cavalry
- 16 000 infantry
- 8 large cannons, 40 small / field cannons
1537, September, Ottoman defensive army at Osijek: 5 000
- note: opposes the above army
1538, Jurišić’s army led to reinforce Croatia
- 500 – 600 heavy cavalry
- few hundred infantry
- 2 000 light cavalry
1537, forces requested by Croatian nobility for defense of Croatia
- 1 000 light cavalry in Croatia
- Slavonia:
  - 2 000 light cavalry
  - 500 heavy cavalry
  - 1 000 infantry
  - 1 000 engineers
1537, forces promised by Ferdinand for defense of Slavonia
- 2 000 cavalry
- 1 000 infantry
- note: request for one heavy cavalryman for every 25 serfs
1537, August, garrison of Novigrad on Una: 200 cavalry
1538, January, legal request to equip one cavalryman for every 36 serfs; 40 horses for drawing cannons; 1 food wagon from every 20 serfs to transport food to stores – 1/20 of food to be given to the viceroy for the army
1540, July, Habsburg emergency army: 12 000
1541, May, Habsburg siege of Buda:
- Habsburg army: 20 000
- Ottoman relief army, 21 July:
  - 30 000 cavalry
  - 2 000 infantry (Janissaries)
1542: one light cavalryman from every 20 serf homes for King’s army; three light cavalrymen for every 100 serf homes for permanent defense of the kingdom
1542, July, Habsburg army marching at Ostrogon: 55 000
- German State Army
  - 25 000 – 26 000 infantry
  - 5 000 – 6 000 cavalry
- 3 600 Italians
- 10 000 Hussars
- 10 000 other Hungarian troops
- ~400 Croatian troops
1543, Suleiman’s invasion of Croatia and Hungary: 200 000
1543, Ottoman garrison left in Hungary under Rustem: 50 000
1543, Ferdinand’s army at the border: 40 000
1545, 1 May, Ottoman raid towards Varaždin: 7 000 – 10 000
1545, May, Wildenstein’s force: 600 cavalry initially, increased to 1 500 before being destroyed – 300 survivors
- note: followed the above Ottoman army to try and limit destruction
1545, Wildenstein’s remaining border force: 800 cavalry
1545, June, numerous Ottoman raids of indeterminate size
1545 – 1547, constant raids of indeterminate size until the five-year peace agreement (1547, to last until 1552)
1547 – February 1548, minor Uskok raids on Ottoman lands continue but ceased completely in February 1548
1549, (peacetime) standing army of Viceroy of Croatia – 250 cavalry
1550, December, Ottoman raid on Vinodol: 500 cavalry
- note: peacetime Croatian army noted as being incapable of stopping Ottoman raids
1551, June, Ferdinand’s army in Erdely: 6 000 – 8 000
1551, September, Ottoman invasion of Erdely under Mehmed Sokolović: 40 000
1551, Ottoman garrison of Lipa: 5 000
1551, personal banderium of commander of Erdely Utišenić: 1 500
1552, February, requests by council: one cavalryman for every 10 peasants and 1 infantryman for every 20 peasants
1552, May, Ottoman army at Levak field: 5 000
1552, July, Ottoman army besieging Temisvar: 50 000
1552, July, Hungarian garrison of Temisvar: 1 300 soldiers, 250 armed citizens
1552, July, Habsburg army: 9 000 – 10 000 (defeated on 9 August)
- 3 500 Italian infantry
- 3 000 German mercenaries
- 800 Moravians
- some Haiduks
1552, August, Styrian and Carniolian troops gathered to assist Croatia: 4 000
- note: soon disbanded without even moving or achieving anything
1552, August, Ottoman army of Sanjak of Čazma: 1400 infantry and cavalry
1552, September, Ottoman siege of Eger
- Ottoman army: 100 000
- Hungarian garrison: 2 000
1552, October, German (Saxon) army in Hungary: 11 000
1552, October, Ottoman raid on Croatia: 6 000
1552, October, field army led by Croatian viceroy: 700 cavalry
1553, promised standing army to defend borders of Croatia:4 200
- 200 heavy cavalry
- 2 000 light cavalry
- 1 000 German infantry
- 1 000 Croatian infantry (Haramis)
1553, standing army, Slavonian border: 4 841 (2 725 cavalry, 700 regular infantry, 1 416 haramis)
- Supreme Captain’s Company: 1050 (750 cavalry, 300 regular infantry)
  - Captain’s own:
    - 300 cavalry
    - 200 infantry (Landsknechte)
  - Lenković
    - 200 cavalry
    - 50 cavalrymen for post duties
  - Gradac near Križevci
    - 100 cavalry
    - 100 infantry
  - Kanisza: 100 cavalry
- Slavonian Border
  - 1 375 cavalry
  - 1 416 haramis
- Company of Nikola Zrinski: 600 cavalry, 400 infantry
1553, standing army, Croatian border: 1 209
- Senj captaincy: 383
- Bihać captaincy: 190
- mobile army: 200 cavalry, 400 infantry
- 36 mountain guards / scouts
1553, overall standing army in Croatia: 6 050
1554, November, Croatian mobile army: 300 cavalry (remainder in garrisons)
1555, October, viceroy Zrinski’s army: 300 cavalry (note: mobile army)
1555, Erdedy’s standing army at Kostajnica and Novigrad: 155 cavalry
1556, April, viceroy Zrinski’s standing army: 600 cavalry, 400 infantry
- 200 cavalry in mobile army
- 200 cavalry and 200 infantry around Hrastovica and Gradac
- 200 cavalry and 100 infantry around Vrbovac and Rakovac
- 100 infantry around Ivanić
1556, June, Siege of Szigetvar:
- Ottoman army (Ali-Pasha):
  - 10 000 initially
  - gradually reinforced to 25 000
- Defense army (Marko Stančić Horvat):
  - 600 – 800 mercenaries
  - 200 armed civilians
- Relief army near Kaniža: 10 000; attacked Bobovac on 19 July, forcing siege to lift
1556, August: 1 armed infantryman per 5 serfs
1556, late August, army of Archduke Ferdinand in southwestern Hungary: 6 000
1556, December, standing army promised to viceroy Peter Erdedy: 600 cavalry, 400 infantry
1557, April, Ottoman raiding party: >130 (50 captured, 80 killed)
1557, early August, Ottoman raiding party in Slavonia: 4 000 cavalry
1557, 19 August, Lenković’s party: 300 heavy cavalry, 100 light cavalry
- note: destroyed the above Ottoman raiding party
1557, 19 August, Ottoman raiding party destroyed near Koprivnica: 150 cavalry
1558, 28 August, Ottoman raid over Una: 800 men (captured 80 Croatian civilians)
1558, 30 August, Ottoman raid: 500 men (captured 100 Croatian civilians)
1558, 29 September, Ottoman raid by Malkoč-beg: 11 000
1558, 29 November, Ottoman raid on Koprivnica: 1 000
- 150 killed and 120 captured by Croatian forces in ambush near Đurđevac
1559, February, Ottoman raid on Croatia and Carinthia: 6 000 cavalry
1560, March 16, Ottoman raid on Vranograč
- Ottoman army: 420
- Response:
  - Habsburg troops: 300
  - Croatian troops: 60 – 80
1560, March 16, Ottoman raid on Slunj: unknown
1560, May, four Ottoman raids in eight days – typical raid size 3 000 cavalry and infantry
1560, June 6, Ottoman raid on Novigrod – 6 000 cavaly and infantry
1560, June, Lenković’s request to Styria: 2 000 riflemen
1560, September, Ottoman raid on Ivanić: 2 000 cavalry
1560, September, Croatian Harami force: 68 infantry
- note: ambushed and turned away the above Ottoman cavalry force
1560, October, Ottoman raid on Donja Kladuša: 2 000 cavalry
pause in Ottoman raids through autumn-winter 1560 and spring 1561; new raids only in June 1561
1561, June, Ottoman raid on Sračica: 50 – 60 cavalry
1562, March, Croatian raid on Ottoman Podravina: 5 000 men (soldiers and peasants)
- note: conquered fortified city of Slatina that had Ottoman garrison of 370
1562, April, Ottoman army on Levak field: 7 000
1562, June, Ottoman army near Moslavina on Drava: 20 000 cavalry, 2 000 infantry, 3 000 workers (building a fort)
1562, early June, Ottoman raid from Kostajnica: 1 000 cavalry
1562, early June, Ottoman raid from Novigrad: 1 000 cavalry
1562, June, eight year peace signed between Ferdinant and Suleiman
1563 commission conclusions:
- 1 902 soldiers for 12 fortified places in Slavonia (Ivanić, Sveti Križ, Gumnik, Cirkvena, Križevci, Gradec, Topolovac, Đurđevac, Koprivnica, Vizvar, Varaždin, Toplice)
  - 807 haramis
  - 670 katanas
  - 20 Slavonian sharpshooters
  - 150 German riders
  - 175 German riflemen
  - 80 German sharpshooters
- Bihać, current garrison 300 cavalry and infantry, to be reinforced with additional 300 cavalry and 100 infantry
- Ripač, current garrison 60 troops, to be reinforced with additional 100
- Croatian border to have 3 600 infantry in garrisons in total and adequate cavalry
1564, John Sigismund Zapolya’s campaign against Austrian Hungary: 18 000
- 12 000 Erdely troops
- 6 000 Ottoman troops
1565, June, Pasha Mustafa Sokolović’s raid on Croatia and conquest of Krupa
- Ottoman army:
  - initial force 4 000
  - after receiving reinforcements: 20 000
- garrison of Krupa: 28 soldiers
- Auersperg’s relief army: 7 000
  - 4 000 Croatian
  - 3 000 Carniolian
1565., June, Ottoman raid to Gradec (destroyed on 30 June)
- 1 500 cavalry and infantry
1565, July, approved Styrian help to Croatia: 600 riflemen
1565, September 10, Battle of Obreška
- Croatian army (Petar Erdedy): 3 000 cavalry and infantry (of which cavalry 1 000?)
  - note: initially assembled with the intent of raiding Ottoman territory
- Ottoman army (Mustafa Sokolović): 12 000 cavalry
1566, Austrian field armies
- Maximillian’s hired troops for 2 million gold florints: 21 500 cavalry, 17 800 – 19 800 infantry – to defend Hungary
  - Germany
    - 12 000 – 14 000 infantry
    - 10 000 cavalry
  - 7 000 Bohemian cavalry
  - 1 900 Austrian cavalry
  - 1 500 – 1 700 personal cavalry of Maximillian and Ferdinand
  - 3 500 Hungarian troops
  - 100 men from France
  - 800 cavalry from Italy
  - 3 000 infantry from Firenze
  - 200 cavalry and 200 infantry from Savoy
  - 2 000 infantry hired by Papal money
- army of Archduke Charles in Međimurje: 10 000
- Erdedi and Auersperg’s army at Topusko (September)
  - 3 000 cavalry
  - four infantry banderiums (1 600 infantry?)
1566, major garrisons
- 6 000 Hungarian troops at Nyitra
- 5 000 troops at Košice
- 2 600 men at Gyula
- 2 500 – 3 000 troops at Szigetvar (mostly Croatian)
1566, Ottoman armies
- Pertav-pasha’s army against Gyula (captured Gyula on 3 September)
  - 25 000 cavalry and infantry
  - 2 000 Janissaries
- Suleiman’s army against Sziget
  - 100 000 men
  - 200 cannons
- Ottoman relief army at Topusko
  - Usraim-beg: 5 000 cavalry
  - Holi-beg
    - 800 cavalry
    - 800 Janissaries
1568, November, Drašković’s army: 8 000 cavalry and infantry
1571, April, Ottoman raid: 330 cavalry
- multiple raids of undetermined size in April
late 1571 / early 1572, raid by Juraj Zriny: 3 000 cavalry
1573, February, Ottoman raid on Cetin: 3 000 men
1574, March, Ottoman raid on Slavonia: 3 000 men
1574, May, Parliament conclusion: a standing army of 240 Haramis
- 200 Haramis under deputy viceroy
- 40 Haramis in the garrisons
1575, September, Ferhat-pasha’s raid
- Ottoman army of Ferhat-pasha
  - 3 000 men led against Bihać
  - increased to 10 000 – 12 000 men before going to raid northern Croatia
- Croatian army (Herbart Auersperg)
  - 2 000 cavalry and infantry
  - note: destroyed by the Ottomans
1576, January, standing army of viceroy of Croatia: 300 cavalry, 200 infantry
1576, entire year – a total of 50 – 60 major and minor Ottoman raids in this year alone
1576, April, raiding army of Ferhat-beg: 7 000
1576, April, garrison of Hrastovica: 25 infantry (captured by Ferhat-beg by trick)
1576, April, garrison of Gvozdansko: 130
- 80 Croatian infantry
- 20 Carniolian riflemen
- 30 miners
1577, assessment of Croatian border forces
- 1 972 professional soldiers on the Slavonian border – to be increased to 3 058
- 2 757 professional soldiers on the Croatian border – to be increased to 3 800
- personal force of Croatian viceroy to be set to 300 cavalry and 200 infantry
1577, October, Ferhat-beg’s raid on Croatia
- Ottoman army: 5 000
- John Auersperg’s army: 600 cavalry
- garrison of Gvozdansko: 300 men
1577, December – 1578, January, Siege of Gvozdansko
- Croatian garrison: 300
  - 50 soldiers
  - 250 peasants
- Ottoman army: 10 000
1578, March, proposed standing forces on Croatian border
- Croatian border: 2 435 soldiers (annual pay 160 848 forints)
  - 1 315 Haramis
  - 500 Hussars
  - 300 horse shooters
  - 320 German soldiers
- Slavonian border: 2 700 soldiers (annual pay 152 496 forints)
  - 200 arquebusiers
  - 400 Hussars
  - 350 German soliders
  - 1 750 Haramis
- other recurring expenses:
  - 135 400 for buildings
  - 50 000 for artillery
  - 25 000 for provisions
  - 25 451 for war council
- single expenses:
  - new fort on Croatian border and repairs of already existing forts: 420 000 forints
  - new sentry post between Sisak and Hrastovica: 8 000 for
  - cities near Glina: 20 000 for
  - Bihać: 20 000 for
  - cities between Bihać and Senj: 5 000 for
  - Slunj: 5 000 for
1578, April, Ottoman raid near Koprivnica: 2 000
1578, May, Ottoman raid through Croatia to Carniola: 5 000
1578, August, Habsburg army under Khevenhiller to invade Bosnia
- 7 000 men and 18 cannons from Carniola, Carinthia, Goritza and Istria
- 4 000 – 5 000 infantry and cavalry under viceroy Ungnad
1578, September, Fehrat-beg’s army: 24 000
1578, October, remains of Khevenhiller’s army: 4 000
- note: no major engagements with the Ottomans
1580, July, Ottoman raid towards Lipa: 500
multiple Ottoman raids of undeterminate size during July
1580, September, encounter battle near ruins of Grabrovnik (Croatian victory)
- Croatian army: 2 400
- Ottoman army: 4 000
1581, January, Ottoman raid: 3 000
1581, September, Ottoman raid under Ahmet-beg and Ali-beg: 5 000
1581, April, decision to increase number of Haramis on Kupa from 100 to 200
1584, October, Ottoman raid into Carniola:
- Ottoman army: 8 000 – 10 000
  - Valvassor’s note: 8 400 cavalry, 600 infantry
- Croatian response army: 2 000
  - note: Croatian victory
  - Valvassor’s note: 1 330 cavalry, 700 infantry
1586, December, Ottoman raid and battle at Ivanić
- Ottoman army: 3 500
  - 3 000 cavalry
  - 500 infantry
- Croatian army: 500 cavalry and infantry
1587, August, Ottoman raid towards Donja Lendava: 5 500
- note: ambushed and destroyed at Kaczorlak swamps, leading to pause in raids
1591, May, reinforcements for defense of Bihać: 200
1591, August 6 – 11, Ottoman siege of Sisak by Hasan-pasha
- Ottoman army: 16 000 – 18 000
- note: Ottomans broke the peace agreement by this
1591, October, Ottoman raid into Slavonia: 4 000
1592, April, Ottoman preparations for siege of Sisak
- Ottoman army under Hasan-pasha near Sisak: 40 000, including civilian workers (likely ~20 000 soldiers)
  - Fort of Petrinja:
    - construction began on 12 April
    - construction finished on 2 May
    - garrison: 1 000 men (received on 2 May)
  - Fort of Hrastovica: 400 men (received on 2 May)
  - Fort of Gore: 200 men (received on 3 May)
1592, June, Siege of Bihać
- Ottoman army: ~20 000
- Garrison of Bihać: 400 – 530, of which 150 German mercenaries
1592, July, Styrian reinforcements to Zagreb: 2 000 (400 cavalry, 1 600 infantry)
1592, July, Ottoman attack on Croatian viceroy’s camp:
- Habsburg / Croatian army: 3 000 (2 000 Styrian, 500 Croatian, 500 armed peasants)
- Ottoman army: 7 000 – 8 000
1592, September and November, Ottoman raids of undeterminate size
1593, January, standing army of Viceroy of Croatia (incl. Slavonia): 250 cavalry, 250 infantry
1593, January and February, Ottoman raids:
- first raid, 400
- second raid, 12 February, 1 300
1593, Ottoman raid on areas between Kupa and Sava: 3 000 cavalry, 300 infantry
1593, June, Siege and Battle of Sisak
- Garrison of Sisak: 300
- Ottoman Army: 18 000
  - 2 000 – 3 000 heavy cavalry (Sipahis)
  - 2 000 regular infantry (Janissaries)
  - 8 000 – 10 000 light cavalry
  - remainder (6 000 – 3 000) irregular light infantry (Azabs)
- Relief Habsburg Army: 3 790
  - 1 200 harquebusier cavalry
  - 730 irregular light cavalry
    - 200 + 80 Hussars
    - 200(?) Hussars
    - 250(?) Hussars
  - 150 heavy infantry (pikemen)
    - 150(?) pikemen
  - 260 regular ranged infantry
    - 160 musketeers
    - 100(?) musketeers
  - 1 450 light infantry
    - 1 000 border light infantry
    - 200(?) light infanty
    - 250(?) Uskoks
1593, August, Ottoman conquest of Sisak
- Sisak garrison: 100
- Ottoman army (Hasan Sokolović): 60 000
1593, September, Ottoman raid on Božjakovina, Kraljevac and Zagreb: 10 000
1593, September, Ottoman army (Sinan-pasha) in Hungary: 100 000
1593, October 28, Habsburg (count Hardegg)’s siege of Stolni Biograd:
- Habsburg army: 40 000
- Ottoman relief army under Hasan Sokolović: unknown (completely destroyed by Hardegg)
1594, May, Habsburg army under Archduke Matthias: 35 000 (later increased to 50 000)
1594, June, Habsburg (Herberstain’s) raid on Ottoman Slavonia: 1 500
1594, July, Sinan-pasha’s Ottoman army from Biograd: 200 000
- captured Gyor
1594, July 15, Habsburg army between Sava and Kupa: 16 000
- besieged Petrinja on 1 August
1594, November, Croatian (Lenković) raid on Bihać: 10 000 cavalry and infantry
1595, August 23, Battle of Calugarani
- Wallachian forces: 16 000
- Ottoman: 35 000
1595, August, campaign for liberation of Erdely
- allied forces: 40 000
  - Erdely: 25 000 – 30 000
  - Wallachian: 15 000 – 10 000
1595, Habsburg army: 60 000
- >4 000 cavalry
  - 2 000 Dutch cavalry
  - 2 000 Papal cavalry
- >17 000 infantry
  - 6 000 Valon infantry
  - 8 000 Papal infantry
  - 3 000 Tuscan infantry
- unknown numbers of German troops (~40 000)
- conquered Ostrogon in July to September
1595, garrisons raised by cities
- citizen garrisons (all infantry)
  - Zagreb: 50
  - Varaždin: 200
  - Križevci: 25
  - Koprivnica: 25
- mercenary infantry garrisoned in cities
  - Sisak: 50
  - Želin: 50
  - Podotočje: 12
  - Lomnica: 15
  - Sveti Juraj: 10
  - Brezovica: 25
  - Božjakovina: 15
  - Pokupsko: 50
  - Kupčina: 20
  - Rečica: 10
  - Jastrebarsko: 25
  - Samobor: 15
1595, August, Ottoman response to Herberstein’s raid: 20 000
1595, April, attempted liberation of Klis (failed due to Venetian betrayal)
- initial Croatian Uskok force: 120 men
- Uskok force that captured Klis: 420
- end garrison of Klis: 400
  - 70 Uskoks
  - 200 men from Poljica
- Ottoman response force:
  - April 12: 600
  - April 18: 2 000
  - April 24: 8 000
  - final: 10 000 – 15 000
- Habsburg relief army under Juraj Lenković: 1 000
  - 300 left to guard the ships
  - 700 went to Klis
  - 300 Croatian volunteers joined along the way – final force 1 000
  - 300 left in Klis, 700 went to get help – destroyed on the way
1596, May – June, escort of archduke Ferdinand during inspection of Croatian Military Border
- 300 cavalry
- some infantry
1596, July, Habsburg army at Petrinja: 6 000
- forced to retreat by superior Ottoman army
1596, September 10, Ottoman siege of Petrinja:
- Ottoman army: 20 000 – 30 000
- garrison of Petrinja:
  - 250 – 300 troops of the garrison
  - 100 Harami reinforcements
- relief army (mid-September): 5 000 – 6 000
- 6 000 strong Ottoman detachment defeated (3 000 killed), rest of the army abandons siege
1596, August 15, Archduke Maximillian’s army at Hatvan: 36 000
1596, September, siege of Eger
- Eger garrison: 4 000
- Ottoman army: 130 000
- note: Eger fell when Valon and German troops rebelled
- Habsburg attempted relief: 50 000 men, 36 cannons
1597, March, Uskok raid on Venetian territory: 500
1597, September 9, Habsburg raid on Slatina: 1 000
1597, September, Habsburg siege of Gjur: 8 000 (?)
1598, February, Uskok raid on Venetian territory: 700 Uskoks, 70 German riflemen
1598, September 17, raid on Ottoman Slavonia: 4 500
- Battle of Cernik:
  - Habsburg army: 4 500
  - Ottoman army: 2 000 (destroyed)
1598, September 22, Venetian raid on Ledenice: 300
1600, September 8, Ottoman siege of Kanisza
- Garrison: 2 000
- Relief army: 25 000
- Ottoman army: unknown, but significantly more numerous
  - Ottoman garrison in Kanisza following capture: 3 000
1601, January, defense agreements
- Archduke Ferdinand’s proposal for defense against Kanisza:
  - 5 171 men
    - 500 German cavalry
    - 1 080 German infantry
    - 1 301 Hussar
    - 2 290 Haiduks
- Parliament’s decision: 1 cavalryman from every 20 homes
1601, January, Uskoks in Sinj: 300
1601, January, Rabatta’s garrison in Sinj: 1 500 riflemen
mid 1601, siege of Kanisza
- army collected to retake Kanisza: 24 000
  - Papal troops: 10 000
  - Toscana: 2 000
  - Mantova: 100 heavy cavalry
  - Spain: 4 000 German mercenaries
  - Archduke Ferdinand: 5 000
    - 3 000 infantry
    - 2 000 cavalry
- Ottoman garrison: 3 000 (1 500 Janissaries)
1601, September, siege of Stolni Biograd:
- Habsburg army: 20 000
- Ottoman relief army: 50 000
1602, September, Sefer-beg’s raid on Rečica: 3 000
1602, October, Rusworm’s attack on Budim:
- Habsburg army: 20 000
1605, May, Nemeth’s (Hungarian Haiduks) attack on Styria: 4 000
1605, July, Viceroy Ivan Drašković’s invasion of Nemeth’s Hungary: 10 000

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War Fantasy Jun 2