The Siege of Vienna

Rating:
Summary: Coalition of the Willing
Review: In summer of 1683, the powers of Europe put aside their differences to repel the last real Muslim threat to the West. Even France, while not contributing troops to the anti-Ottoman forces, stayed its hand while its traditional enemy the Hapsburgs were preoccupied with the defense of their Austrian capitol.

This is an epic story, and John Stoye conveys the momentous nature and scope of events. The gathering of the Ottoman armies, the franctic Hapsburg efforts to find military allies, the tightening noose of the siege, and the eventual military relief -all are covered in stunning detail. As C.V.Wedgwood wrote of John Stoye when this book was first published over 40 years ago -"the master of every aspect of his subject". Any criticisms are minor, but 1) more detail on the Ottoman governmental structure (ie the relationship between the Sultan and the Grand Vizier) and 2)a fuller explanation of 17th century siegecraft, would have been helpful.

Finally, compare the threats we face today to the days when Turkish cavalry prowled the Vienna Woods, and Europe trembled at the coming of the Turk.


Rating:
Summary: More about the politics than about the battle
Review: The last gasp of Turkish expansion into Europe took place in 1683, when the Ottomans advanced into Hungary and Austria and besieged Vienna. This expert history goes into great detail about the political and diplomatic context, with particular attention to the Habsburg obsession with Louis XIV's France. The relatively brief sections on the actual fighting will be enough for most readers, but may be disappointing to military history buffs. The book includes some black and white plates and several maps. Fine scholarship, though not light reading.

Rating:
Summary: More about the politics than about the battle
Review: The last gasp of Turkish expansion into Europe took place in 1683, when the Ottomans advanced into Hungary and Austria and besieged Vienna. This expert history goes into great detail about the political and diplomatic context, with particular attention to the Habsburg obsession with Louis XIV's France. The relatively brief sections on the actual fighting will be enough for most readers, but may be disappointing to military history buffs. The book includes some black and white plates and several maps. Fine scholarship, though not light reading.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but somewhat of a squandered opportunity
Review: This book really isn't about the siege of Vienna at all. It's really about the political events leading up to the Ottoman invasion of Austria. The siege itself and the ensuing battle are given scant attention, which was a huge disappointment for me. The political environment is an interesting subject, but the military events themselves are almost completely ignored. That's too bad, because that means only half the story is told in this book. Making matters worse is the fact that the book is a slow, dry read that failed to captivate me in any way. I'm unaware of any other books on this subject though, so I'm afraid this may be the only gig in town.