Ottoman Empire Battles: The 6 Greatest, 1396 to 1683

For more than three centuries the Ottoman Empire was the great power astride Europe and Asia, and its story was written on the battlefield. These are the battles that built it and marked the limits of its reach, from the crusade crushed at Nicopolis and the walls of Constantinople to the high-water marks at Lepanto and Vienna, triumphs and defeats alike, each linked to its full story.

Nicopolis, 1396. Bayezid I destroyed a great crusader army, confirming Ottoman power in the Balkans.

Ottoman miniature of mounted warriors charging crusader knights below a fortress — Bayezid I routs the crusaders at Nicopolis in 1396, a miniature from the Hünername, an illustrated history made for the Ottoman court in 1588. Public domain

The Fall of Constantinople, 1453. Mehmed II stormed the Byzantine capital, ending the Roman Empire in the East and announcing a new power.

Chaldiran, 1514. Selim I's guns broke the Safavid cavalry of Shah Ismail, securing the empire's eastern frontier.

Mohacs, 1526. Suleiman the Magnificent shattered the kingdom of Hungary in under two hours, opening central Europe.

Two-page Ottoman miniature of cavalry and guns clashing on a flowered battlefield — Sultan Suleiman at the Battle of Mohacs in 1526, a double-page miniature from the Suleymanname of 1558. Public domain

Lepanto, 1571. A Holy League fleet destroyed most of the Ottoman navy, the empire's first great defeat at sea.

Vienna, 1683. The last Ottoman drive on Vienna was broken by a Polish-led relief, the turning of the tide in Europe.

Panoramic painting of cavalry battling before the Ottoman camp with Vienna and the Danube behind — The relief of Vienna in 1683, painted by the Flemish artist Frans Geffels between 1683 and 1694; the painting is in the Wien Museum. Public domain

Triumphs and the turning tide

Not every battle here was an Ottoman victory. From Nicopolis and the fall of Constantinople to Chaldiran and Mohacs, the Ottomans rose to dominate three continents. Then came the checks: Lepanto broke the myth of Ottoman invincibility at sea, and the failed siege of Vienna in 1683 marked the moment the tide turned in Europe.

Historical map of the Ottoman Empire across the Balkans, Anatolia, the Middle East and North Africa — The growth of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1683, a map from William R. Shepherd's Historical Atlas. Public domain

Meet the sultans who led them in the greatest commanders of the Ottoman Empire, or place these battles among the world's greatest in the greatest battles of all time.

Frequently asked questions

What was the most important battle in Ottoman history?

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 is the most symbolic, ending the Byzantine Empire and making the Ottomans a world power; Mohacs in 1526 and the failed siege of Vienna in 1683 are also often named as turning points.

What was the largest Ottoman defeat?

At sea, Lepanto in 1571, where a Holy League fleet destroyed most of the Ottoman navy; on land, the failed siege of Vienna in 1683, after which the empire steadily lost ground in Europe.

How did Mehmed II take Constantinople?

In 1453 Mehmed II besieged the city with a huge army and enormous cannon, breached the ancient walls after weeks of bombardment, and stormed it, ending the Roman Empire in the East.

Why was the Battle of Vienna in 1683 important?

The Ottoman siege of Vienna was broken by a relief army led by the Polish king John III Sobieski; it was the Ottomans' last great push into central Europe and began their long retreat.

Were the Ottomans undefeated at their height?

No. Even at their peak they suffered major defeats, above all Lepanto in 1571 at sea; but on land they remained dominant in the Balkans and the Near East for generations.

Where can I read about the commanders?

Each battle links to its full story, and the guide to the greatest commanders of the Ottoman Empire collects the sultans behind them, from Bayezid I and Mehmed II to Selim I and Suleiman the Magnificent.

The Greatest Battles of the Ottoman Empire

Triumphs and the turning tide

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Relive the Ottoman conquests