Siege of Belgrade (1688)

The Siege of Belgrade in 1688 was the fourth siege of that city, taking place during the Great Turkish War.

Belgrade was at that time a part of the Ottoman Empire, and had been for two centuries. The Ottoman Empire was at war with the Holy League, the forces of which were led by the elector of Bavaria, Maximilian II Emanuel. The Austrians were also accompanied by many Serbian volunteers under the command of Jovan Monasterlija.

Maximilian laid siege to the city on 30 July 1688 and subjected it to cannon fire for nearly a month. Upon refusal of his offer to accept the Turkish garrison's surrender, Maximilian ordered an assault on 6 September. At first the Imperial forces wavered, but Maximilian , accompanied by Prince Eugene of Savoy, rallied the forces and drove the garrison from the walls.

Maximilian's forces lost four thousand men in the assault, while the Turks lost five thousand. They would hold the city for two years, until the Turks returned to besiege it in 1690.