Battle of Kressenbrunn

The Battle of Kressenbrunn was a victorious final battle of the Bohemian King Ottokar II over the Hungarians under King Béla IV They occurred in July 1260 in the southeast of the March field near the village of Kressenbrunn, today Groißenbrunn in Lower Austria.

Prehistory

The spread of the Bohemian kingdom under Ottokar II mid-13th century did the Hungarian kings halt. From the spring of 1260 the Hungarian king with Daniel, King of Galicia and the Grand Duke of Cracow Boleslav allied. There were Serbs, Bulgarians, Greeks and Wallachian. Also, the Khan of the Tartars Burundaj sent his warriors. The army reached a strength of allegedly 30-40,000 man. The army strength Ottokar consisting of Bohemia, Moravians and Austrians as well as reinforced by soldiers of the Margrave of Magdeburg, Meissen and Silesia was allegedly 30-35000 men, including armored cavalryman.

Battle Record

For a while both armies besieged on the border between Austria and Hungary, Bohemia, on the right, the Hungarians on the left side of the March. Neither of the two kings wanted the river, for fear of an accident, cross. Finally Ottokar submitted to the Hungarian King Béla the suggestion that under conditions of the knightly armies must cross the river without attacking the opponent. The Czech soldiers retreated partially deep into the land back, as they initially expected an attack of Hungary.

However, this situation took advantage of Stephen, son of the Hungarian king, to attack and hit the place Kressenbrunn on the mounted heavily armed soldiers Bohemian. Ottokar called back the dormant groups. Under the leadership of Prague Castle Count Jaroš z Poděhuz the mounted troops stormed against the Hungary. A short time later joined the Bohemian Marshal Wok von Rosenberg and his men in the battle. They beat back the first attack of Hungary and Prince Stephan had to leave the field severely wounded. After the rest of the Bohemian army had arrived, fled the Hungarian army. She lost it supposedly 10,000 men on the field, many of them were drowned in the river.

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On July 12th Bela offered peace negotiations. Ottokar was awarded the Peace of Vienna in 1261, Styria and the renewal of peace the marriage Ottokar was decided with Cunegonde of Halych.